• Skip to language switcher
  • Skip to main categories navigation
  • Skip to secondary categories navigation
  • Skip to current category navigation
  • Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Gender-based violence

  • What is gender-based violence?
  • Forms of violence
  • EIGE’s work on gender-based violence
  • Administrative data collection
    • Data collection on violence against women
    • About the tool
    • Administrative data sources
    • Advanced search
  • Analysis of EU directives from a gendered perspective
  • Costs of gender-based violence
  • Cyber violence against women
  • Intimate partner violence and witness intervention
  • Female genital mutilation
    • Risk estimations
  • Risk assessment and risk management by police
    • Risk assessment principles and steps
      • Principles
        • Principle 1: Prioritising victim safety
        • Principle 2: Adopting a victim-centred approach
        • Principle 3: Taking a gender-specific approach
        • Principle 4: Adopting an intersectional approach
        • Principle 5: Considering children’s experiences
      • Steps
        • Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives of police risk assessment
        • Step 2: Identify the most appropriate approach to police risk assessment
        • Step 3: Identify the most relevant risk factors for police risk assessment
        • Step 4: Implement systematic police training and capacity development
        • Step 5: Embed police risk assessment in a multiagency framework
        • Step 6: Develop procedures for information management and confidentiality
        • Step 7: Monitor and evaluate risk assessment practices and outcomes
    • Risk management principles and recommendations
      • Principle 1. Adopting a gender-specific approach
      • Principle 2. Introducing an individualised approach to risk management
      • Principle 3. Establishing an evidence-based approach
      • Principle 4. Underpinning the processes with an outcome-focused approach
      • Principle 5. Delivering a coordinated, multiagency response
    • Legal and policy framework
    • Tools and approaches
    • Areas for improvement
    • References
  • Good practices in EU Member States
  • Methods and tools in EU Member States
  • White Ribbon Campaign
    • About the White Ribbon Campaign
    • White Ribbon Ambassadors
  • Regulatory and legal framework
    • International regulations
    • EU regulations
    • Strategic framework on violence against women 2015-2018
    • Legal Definitions in the EU Member States
  • Literature and legislation
  • EIGE's publications on gender-based violence
  • Videos
European Institute for Gender Equality logoEuropean Institute for Gender Equality
Search

Search form

English
  • EN - English
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • EN - English
  • BG - Български
  • ES - Español
  • CS - Čeština
  • DA - Dansk
  • DE - Deutsch
  • ET - Eesti
  • EL - Ελληνικά
  • FR - Français
  • GA - Gaeilge
  • HR - Hrvatski
  • IT - Italiano
  • LV - Latviešu valoda
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • HU - Magyar
  • MT - Malti
  • NL - Nederlands
  • PL - Polski
  • PT - Português
  • RO - Română
  • SK - Slovenčina (slovenský jazyk)
  • SL - Slovenščina (slovenski jezik)
  • FI - Suomi
  • SV - Svenska
  • Menu
  • Gender mainstreaming
    • What is Gender mainstreaming
      • Policy cycle
    • Institutions and structures
      • European Union
      • EU Member States
      • Stakeholders
      • International organizations
    • Policy areas
      • Agriculture and rural development
        • Policy cycle
      • Culture
        • Policy cycle
      • Digital agenda
        • Policy cycle
      • Economic and financial affairs
        • Economic Benefits of Gender Equality in the EU
        • Policy cycle
      • Education
        • Policy cycle
      • Employment
        • Policy cycle
        • Structures
      • Energy
        • Policy cycle
      • Entrepreneurship
        • Policy cycle
      • Environment and climate change
        • Policy cycle
      • Health
        • Policy cycle
      • Justice
        • Policy cycle
      • Maritime affairs and fisheries
        • Policy cycle
      • Migration
        • Policy cycle
      • Poverty
        • Policy cycle
      • Regional policy
        • Policy cycle
      • Research
        • Policy cycle
      • Security
        • Policy cycle
      • Sport
        • Policy cycle
      • Tourism
        • Policy cycle
      • Transport
        • Policy cycle
      • Youth
        • Policy cycle
    • Toolkits
      • Gender Equality Training
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Equality Training
        • Why invest in Gender Equality Training
        • Who should use Gender Equality Training
        • Step-by-step guide to Gender Equality Training
            • 1. Assess the needs
            • 2. Integrate initiatives to broader strategy
            • 3. Ensure sufficient resources
            • 4. Write good terms of reference
            • 5. Select a trainer
            • 6. Engage in the needs assessment
            • 7. Actively participate in the initiative
            • 8. Invite others to join in
            • 9. Monitoring framework and procedures
            • 10. Set up an evaluation framework
            • 11. Assess long-term impacts
            • 12. Give space and support others
        • Designing effective Gender Equality Training
        • Find a gender trainer
        • Gender Equality Training in the EU
        • Good Practices on Gender Equality Training
        • More resources on Gender Equality Training
        • More on EIGE's work on Gender Equality Training
      • Gender Impact Assessment
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Impact Assessment
        • Why use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Who should use Gender Impact Assessment
        • When to use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Guide to Gender Impact Assessment
          • Step 1: Definition of policy purpose
          • Step 2: Checking gender relevance
          • Step 3: Gender-sensitive analysis
          • Step 4: Weighing gender impact
          • Step 5: Findings and proposals for improvement
        • Following up on gender impact assessment
        • General considerations
        • Examples from the EU
            • European Commission
            • Austria
            • Belgium
            • Denmark
            • Finland
            • Sweden
            • Basque country
            • Catalonia
            • Lower Saxony
            • Swedish municipalities
      • Institutional Transformation
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Institutional Transformation
          • Institutional transformation and gender: Key points
          • Gender organisations
          • Types of institutions
          • Gender mainstreaming and institutional transformation
          • Dimensions of gender mainstreaming in institutions: The SPO model
        • Why focus on Institutional Transformation
          • Motivation model
        • Who the guide is for
        • Guide to Institutional Transformation
            • 1. Creating accountability and strengthening commitment
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Conducting an organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and work plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting gender equality objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing gender mainstreaming
            • 9. Developing gender equality competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching gender equality action plans
            • 12. Promotional equal opportunities
            • 13. Monitoring and steering organisational change
        • Dealing with resistance
          • Discourse level
          • Individual level
          • Organisational level
          • Statements and reactions
        • Checklist: Key questions for change
        • Examples from the EU
            • 1. Strengthening accountability
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and working plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing methods and tools
            • 9. Developing Competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching action plans
            • 12. Promoting within an organisation
            • 13. Monitoring and evaluating
      • Gender Equality in Academia and Research
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is a Gender Equality Plan?
        • EU objectives for gender equality in research
        • Why change must be structural
        • Who is this guide for?
        • The GEAR Step-by-Step Guide
          • Step 1: Getting started
          • Step 2: Analysing and assessing the state-of-play in the institution
          • Step 3: Setting up a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 4: Implementing a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 5: Monitoring progress and evaluating a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 6: What comes after the Gender Equality Plan?
        • GEAR action toolbox
        • Who is involved in a Gender Equality Plan?
        • Rationale for gender equality in research
        • Basic requirements and success factors
        • Obstacles and solutions
        • Legislative and policy backgrounds
          • Austria
          • Belgium
          • Bulgaria
          • Croatia
          • Cyprus
          • Czechia
          • Denmark
          • Estonia
          • Finland
          • France
          • Germany
          • Greece
          • Hungary
          • Ireland
          • Italy
          • Latvia
          • Lithuania
          • Luxembourg
          • Malta
          • Netherlands
          • Poland
          • Portugal
          • Romania
          • Slovakia
          • Slovenia
          • Spain
          • Sweden
          • United Kingdom
        • Relevant insights
        • Examples
          • A practice to award and ensure greater visibility for women researchers
          • A survey to know your institution
          • AKKA
          • Age limit extension in calls for female researchers with children under 10
          • Cascade Model GFZ
          • Compulsory awareness-raising session for B.A. students
          • Election procedure for the Board
          • Elections for the University's Council
          • Encouraging gender equality activities at the grassroots level across the university
          • Family-leave without consequences for the academic career
          • Gender Equality Report
          • Gender Project Manager
          • Gender Report
          • Gender Sensitive PhD Supervisor Toolkit
          • Gender and Diversity Controlling
          • Gender certification: a road to change? (SE)
          • Gender lectureship: a model for mainstreaming in higher education
          • GenderNet Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
          • High-profile tenure-track positions for top female scientists
          • Introducing a gender perspective in research content and teaching
          • Maternity Cover Fund and Return to Work policy
          • National connections at Fraunhofer Gesellschaft: the National Committee
          • Overcoming bias in personnel selection procedures
          • Participatory approach towards development of Career Development Plan
          • Protocol for preventing and tackling sexual harassment and gender-based violence
          • School of drafting and management for European projects
          • Stimulating personal development to improve women academics’ positions
          • Teaching-free period when returning from parental leave
          • The Gender Balance Committee of the Genomic Regulation Centre (ES)
          • WiSER (Centre for Women in Science and Engineering Research)
          • Women represented in all rounds of applications
        • Key resources
      • Gender-sensitive Parliaments
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is the tool for?
        • Who is the tool for?
        • How to use the tool
        • Self-assessment, scoring and interpretation of parliament gender-sensitivity
          • AREA 1 – Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
            • Domain 1 – Electoral system and gender quotas
            • Domain 2 - Political party/group procedures
            • Domain 3 – Recruitment of parliamentary employees
          • AREA 2 – Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
            • Domain 1 – Parliamentarians’ presence and capacity in a parliament
            • Domain 2 – Structure and organisation
            • Domain 3 – Staff organisation and procedures
          • AREA 3 – Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
            • Domain 1 – Gender mainstreaming structures
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming tools in parliamentary work
            • Domain 3 – Gender mainstreaming tools for staff
          • AREA 4 – The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
            • Domain 1 – Gender equality laws and policies
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming in laws
            • Domain 3 – Oversight of gender equality
          • AREA 5 – The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
            • Domain 1 – Symbolic meanings of spaces
            • Domain 2 – Gender equality in external communication and representation
        • How gender-sensitive are parliaments in the EU?
        • Examples of gender-sensitive practices in parliaments
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
          • Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
          • The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
          • The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
        • Glossary of terms
        • References and resources
      • Gender Budgeting
        • Back to toolkit page
        • Who is this toolkit for?
        • What is gender budgeting?
          • Introducing gender budgeting
          • Gender budgeting in women’s and men’s lived realities
          • What does gender budgeting involve in practice?
          • Gender budgeting in the EU Funds
            • Gender budgeting as a way of complying with EU legal requirements
            • Gender budgeting as a way of promoting accountability and transparency
            • Gender budgeting as a way of increasing participation in budget processes
            • Gender budgeting as a way of advancing gender equality
        • Why is gender budgeting important in the EU Funds?
          • Three reasons why gender budgeting is crucial in the EU Funds
        • How can we apply gender budgeting in the EU Funds? Practical tools and Member State examples
          • Tool 1: Connecting the EU Funds with the EU’s regulatory framework on gender equality
            • Legislative and regulatory basis for EU policies on gender equality
            • Concrete requirements for considering gender equality within the EU Funds
            • EU Funds’ enabling conditions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 2: Analysing gender inequalities and gender needs at the national and sub-national levels
            • Steps to assess and analyse gender inequalities and needs
            • Step 1. Collect information and disaggregated data on the target group
            • Step 2. Identify existing gender inequalities and their underlying causes
            • Step 3. Consult directly with the target groups
            • Step 4. Draw conclusions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 3: Operationalising gender equality in policy objectives and specific objectives/measures
            • Steps for operationalising gender equality in Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes
            • General guidance on operationalising gender equality when developing policy objectives, specific objectives and measures
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Partnership Agreements
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Operational Programmes
            • Examples of integrating gender equality as a horizontal principle in policy objectives and specific objectives
          • Tool 4: Coordination and complementarities between the EU Funds to advance work-life balance
            • Steps for enhancing coordination and complementarities between the funds
            • Step 1. Alignment with the EU’s strategic engagement goals for gender equality and national gender equality goals
            • Steps 2 and 3. Identifying and developing possible work-life balance interventions
            • Step 4. Following-up through the use of indicators within M&E systems
            • Fictional case study 1: reconciling paid work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 2: reconciling shift work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 3: balancing care for oneself and others
            • Fictional case study 4: reconciling care for children and older persons with shift work
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 5: Defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Steps for defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 6: Developing quantitative and qualitative indicators for advancing gender equality
            • Steps to develop quantitative and qualitative indicators
            • ERDF and Cohesion Fund
            • ESF+
            • EMFF
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 7: Defining gender-sensitive project selection criteria
            • Steps to support gender-sensitive project development and selection
            • Checklist to guide the preparation of calls for project proposals
            • Checklist for project selection criteria
            • Supplementary tool 7.a: Gender-responsive agreements with project implementers
          • Tool 8: Tracking resource allocations for gender equality in the EU Funds
          • Tool 9: Mainstreaming gender equality in project design
            • Steps to mainstream gender equality in project design
            • Step 1. Alignment with partnership agreements’ and Operational Programmes’ gender objectives and indicators
            • Step 2. Project development and application
            • Step 3. Project implementation
            • Step 4. Project assessment
          • Tool 10: Integrating a gender perspective in monitoring and evaluation processes
            • Steps to integrate a gender perspective in M&E processes
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 11: Reporting on resource spending for gender equality in the EU Funds
            • Tracking expenditures for gender equality
            • Additional resources
          • References
          • Abbreviations
          • Acknowledgements
    • Methods and Tools
      • Browse
      • About EIGE's methods and tools
      • Gender Analysis
      • Gender Audit
      • Gender Awareness-raising
      • Gender Budgeting
      • Gender Impact Assessment
      • Gender Equality Training
      • Gender Evaluation
      • Gender Statistics and indicators
      • Gender Monitoring
      • Gender Planning
      • Gender Procurement
      • Gender stakeholder consultation
      • Sex-disaggregated Data
      • Institutional Transformation
      • Examples of methods and tools
      • Resources
    • Good Practices
      • Browse
      • About Good Practices
      • EIGE’s approach to Good Practices
    • Country specific information
      • Belgium
        • Overview
        • Browse all Belgium content
      • Bulgaria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Bulgaria content
      • Czechia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Czechia content
      • Denmark
        • Overview
        • Browse all Denmark content
      • Germany
        • Overview
        • Browse all Germany content
      • Estonia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Estonia content
      • Ireland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Ireland content
      • Greece
        • Overview
        • Browse all Greece content
      • Spain
        • Overview
        • Browse all Spain content
      • France
        • Overview
        • Browse all France content
      • Croatia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Croatia content
      • Italy
        • Overview
        • Browse all Italy content
      • Cyprus
        • Overview
        • Browse all Cyprus content
      • Latvia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Latvia content
      • Lithuania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Lithuania content
      • Luxembourg
        • Overview
        • Browse all Luxembourg content
      • Hungary
        • Overview
        • Browse all Hungary content
      • Malta
        • Overview
        • Browse all Malta content
      • Netherlands
        • Overview
        • Browse all Netherlands content
      • Austria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Austria content
      • Poland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Poland content
      • Portugal
        • Overview
        • Browse all Portugal content
      • Romania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Romania content
      • Slovenia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovenia content
      • Slovakia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovakia content
      • Finland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Finland content
      • Sweden
        • Overview
        • Browse all Sweden content
      • United Kingdom
        • Overview
    • EIGE’s publications on Gender mainstreaming
    • Concepts and definitions
    • Power Up conference 2019
    • Videos
  • Gender-based violence
    • What is gender-based violence?
    • Forms of violence
    • EIGE’s work on gender-based violence
    • Administrative data collection
      • Data collection on violence against women
      • About the tool
      • Administrative data sources
      • Advanced search
    • Analysis of EU directives from a gendered perspective
    • Costs of gender-based violence
    • Cyber violence against women
    • Intimate partner violence and witness intervention
    • Female genital mutilation
      • Risk estimations
    • Risk assessment and risk management by police
      • Risk assessment principles and steps
          • Principle 1: Prioritising victim safety
          • Principle 2: Adopting a victim-centred approach
          • Principle 3: Taking a gender-specific approach
          • Principle 4: Adopting an intersectional approach
          • Principle 5: Considering children’s experiences
          • Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives of police risk assessment
          • Step 2: Identify the most appropriate approach to police risk assessment
          • Step 3: Identify the most relevant risk factors for police risk assessment
          • Step 4: Implement systematic police training and capacity development
          • Step 5: Embed police risk assessment in a multiagency framework
          • Step 6: Develop procedures for information management and confidentiality
          • Step 7: Monitor and evaluate risk assessment practices and outcomes
      • Risk management principles and recommendations
        • Principle 1. Adopting a gender-specific approach
        • Principle 2. Introducing an individualised approach to risk management
        • Principle 3. Establishing an evidence-based approach
        • Principle 4. Underpinning the processes with an outcome-focused approach
        • Principle 5. Delivering a coordinated, multiagency response
      • Legal and policy framework
      • Tools and approaches
      • Areas for improvement
      • References
    • Good practices in EU Member States
    • Methods and tools in EU Member States
    • White Ribbon Campaign
      • About the White Ribbon Campaign
      • White Ribbon Ambassadors
    • Regulatory and legal framework
      • International regulations
      • EU regulations
      • Strategic framework on violence against women 2015-2018
      • Legal Definitions in the EU Member States
    • Literature and legislation
    • EIGE's publications on gender-based violence
    • Videos
  • Gender Equality Index
    • View countries
    • Compare countries
    • Thematic Focus
    • About Index
    • Publications
    • Conference 2020
    • Index Game
  • Gender Statistics Database
    • Browse Gender Statistics
    • Data talks
    • FAQs
    • About
    • Search
  • Beijing Platform for Action
  • Countries
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Czechia
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Estonia
    • Ireland
    • Greece
    • Spain
    • France
    • Croatia
    • Italy
    • Cyprus
    • Latvia
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Hungary
    • Malta
    • Netherlands
    • Austria
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Slovenia
    • Slovakia
    • Finland
    • Sweden
  • Topics
    • Health
      • Covid-19 and gender equality
    • Violence
    • Agriculture and rural development
    • Culture
    • Digital agenda
    • Economic and financial affairs
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Environment and climate change
    • Justice
    • Maritime affairs and fisheries
    • Migration
    • Poverty
    • Regional policy
    • Research
    • Sport
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Youth
  • About EIGE
    • EIGE's organisation
      • Management board
      • Experts' forum
      • EIGE staff
    • Our work
      • Stakeholders
      • EU candidate countries and potential candidates
        • About the IPA project
        • Examples from the region
          • Browse
          • About the examples
        • Gender equality indices in the Western Balkans and Turkey
        • Gender statistics in the Western Balkans and Turkey
      • Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies
    • Projects
      • Running projects
      • Closed projects
    • Planning and reporting documents
    • Documents registry
      • Request for access to EIGE documents
    • Contact us
      • Organising an event in EIGE's entry point
      • To visit our library in Vilnius
  • Recruitment
    • Open vacancies
    • Closed vacancies
    • About Recruitment
    • FAQs
    • Selection procedure appeals
    • Relevant forms and information
    • Welcome guide
  • Procurement
    • Open procedures
    • Closed procedures
    • About Procurement
    • External Experts' Database
  • News
  • Events
    • Upcoming events
    • Past events
  • EIGE’s publications
    • Gender-sensitive Communication
      • Overview of the toolkit
      • First steps towards more inclusive language
        • Terms you need to know
        • Why should I ever mention gender?
        • Choosing whether to mention gender
        • Key principles for inclusive language use
      • Challenges
        • Stereotypes
          • Avoid gendered pronouns (he or she) when the person’s gender is unknown
          • Avoid irrelevant information about gender
          • Avoid gendered stereotypes as descriptive terms
          • Gendering in-animate objects
          • Using different adjectives for women and men
          • Avoid using stereotypical images
        • Invisibility and omission
          • Do not use ‘man’ as the neutral term
          • Do not use ‘he’ to refer to unknown people
          • Do not use gender-biased nouns to refer to groups of people
          • Take care with ‘false generics’
          • Greetings and other forms of inclusive communication
        • Subordination and trivialisation
          • Naming conventions
          • Patronising language
      • Test your knowledge
        • Quiz 1: Policy document
        • Quiz 2: Job description
        • Quiz 3: Legal text
      • Practical tools
        • Solutions for how to use gender-sensitive language
        • Pronouns
        • Invisibility or omission
        • Common gendered nouns
        • Adjectives
        • Phrases
      • Policy context
    • Work-life balance in the ICT sector
      • Back to toolkit page
      • EU policies on work-life balance
      • Women in the ICT sector
      • The argument for work-life balance measures
        • Challenges
      • Step-by-step approach to building a compelling business case
        • Step 1: Identify national work-life balance initiatives and partners
        • Step 2: Identify potential resistance and find solutions
        • Step 3: Maximise buy-in from stakeholders
        • Step 4: Design a solid implementation plan
        • Step 5: Carefully measure progress
        • Step 6: Highlight benefits and celebrate early wins
      • Toolbox for planning work-life balance measures in ICT companies
      • Work–life balance checklist
    • Gender Equality Index 2019. Work-life balance
      • Back to toolkit page
      • Foreword
      • Highlights
      • Introduction
        • Still far from the finish line
        • Snail’s-pace progress on gender equality in the EU continues
        • More women in decision-making drives progress
        • Convergence on gender equality in the EU
      • 2. Domain of work
        • Gender equality inching slowly forward in a fast-changing world of work
        • Women dominate part-time employment, consigning them to jobs with poorer career progression
        • Motherhood, low education and migration are particular barriers to work for women
      • 3. Domain of money
        • Patchy progress on gender-equal access to financial and economic resources
        • Paying the price for motherhood
        • Lifetime pay inequalities fall on older women
      • 4. Domain of knowledge
        • Gender equality in education standing still even as women graduates outnumber men graduates
        • Both women and men limit their study fields
        • Adult learning stalls most when reskilling needs are greatest
      • 5. Domain of time
        • Enduring burden of care perpetuates inequalities for women
        • Uneven impact of family life on women and men
      • 6. Domain of power
        • More women in decision-making but still a long way to go
        • Democracy undermined by absence of gender parity in politics
        • More gender equality on corporate boards — but only in a few Member States
        • Limited opportunities for women to influence social and cultural decision-making
      • 7. Domain of health
        • Behavioural change in health is key to tackling gender inequalities
        • Women live longer but in poorer health
        • Lone parents and people with disabilities are still without the health support they need
      • 8. Domain of violence
        • Data gaps mask the true scale of gender-based violence in the EU
        • Backlash against gender equality undermines legal efforts to end violence against women
        • Conceptual framework
        • Parental-leave policies
        • Informal care of older people, people with disabilities and long-term care services
        • Informal care of children and childcare services
        • Transport and public infrastructure
        • Flexible working arrangements
        • Lifelong learning
      • 10. Conclusions
    • Sexism at work
      • Background
        • What is sexism?
        • What is the impact of sexism at work?
        • Where does sexism come from?
        • Sexism at work
        • What happens when you violate sexist expectations?
        • What is sexual harassment?
        • Violating sexist expectations can lead to sexual harassment
        • Under-reporting of sexual harassment
      • Part 2. Test yourself
        • How can I combat sexism? A ten-step programme for managers
        • How can all staff create cultural change
        • How can I report a problem?
        • Eradicating sexism to change the face of the EU
  • Library
    • Search
    • About
  • Glossary & Thesaurus
    • Overview
    • About
    • A-Z Index
    • Browse
    • Search
Toggle sidebar menu
  • Home
  • Gender-based violence
  • Good practices in EU Member States

Model protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM

PrintDownload as PDF
Good practice
Country: Netherlands
Section:
Administrative Data on Violence Against Women
Topics:
Health, Violence
Period:
2009 – 2015
Publication date:
13 October 2016
A joint initiative of health professionals: the protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM (Netherlands)

A joint initiative of health professionals: the protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM

The Model protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM is a joint initiative of several medical professional organisations. It makes recommendations on how professionals can deliver medical, psychosocial and sexual care to girls and women who are victims of FGM. The protocol is aimed at prevention, urgent aid and long-term care. Statements are made on registration and reporting of (potential) cases of FGM.

FGM as a very serious and damaging form of child abuse

Dutch policy towards violence against women (VAW) adopts a gender neutral approach. As a consequence, there are no specific rules in place on data collection of VAW incidents, and no specific national strategy is implemented targeting VAW. The legal framework on violence in the Netherlands criminalises rape (Art. 242 criminal law), sexual assault and stalking (law from 28 June 2000). No separate criminal offence exists for sexual harassment outside of the workplace.

In Netherland FGM is prosecutable under general criminal legislation (section 300-304, 307, 308 of the Penal Code), with a maximum imprisonment of 12 years or a fine of maximum € 76.000. In case FGM is done by one of the parents, imprisonment can be increased with one third. In case the parent(s) gave the assignment, pay for it, provide means that will be used for FGM or assist during FGM, they will be punishable as well. This is seen as instigation, aiding and abetting. An adjustment of the law in February 2006 makes FGM performed abroad punishable too, in case the suspected person has a Dutch nationality or lives in the Netherlands. In July 2009 the period of limitation is prolonged. The period of limitation takes effect with the 18th birthday and amounts to 20 years with serious forms of FGM.

FGM data estimation

Since the 90s, women and girls are living in the Netherlands, who emigrated from countries where female genital mutilation (FGM) - or circumcision - is practiced. According to estimation studies[1], out off the number of women living in the Netherlands in 2012 and originating from countries where FGM is traditionally practiced (almost 70.000, 1% of the Dutch female population), an estimated 40% have undergone FGM. Next to that, 2.000 women originating from these countries live at the asylum reception centres (35% of the total number of women in the reception centres), of whom an estimated 74% have undergone FGM. In total, there are an estimated 29.120 women with FGM living in the Netherlands. The majority of these women fall within the reproductive ages.

An integrated chain approach

Several projects have been implemented in the Netherlands and national policy has been developed in order to prevent FGM among young girls and to offer relevant medical and psycho-social health care for women who have been circumcised.

Activities against FGM in the Netherlands started with short-term projects aimed at breaking the taboo through awareness raising, education and development of expertise. In 1993 the Dutch government takes a clear position: all forms of FGM are forbidden. Gradually, projects are implemented aimed at prevention and education. Activities are interconnected, targeting African communities, the Dutch health care sector and fostering dialogue between these two groups. In 2005, on advice of the Council for Public Health and Health Care, the government increases the sense of urgency to end this form of violence by an intensive approach with a number of tangible measures.

Dutch policies on FGM focus on prevention, mainly through an integrated (chain) approach. The approach developed with ‘key persons’ (persons from African communities, living in the Netherlands) and community based migrant organisations, who after training made FGM a subject of discussion in their community, becomes part of the intensive preventive approach of the government during 2006 - 2009.

Medical and psycho-social care is vital

Since 2010, attention for medical and psychosocial care for women with FGM also increased. To this end, several protocols have been developed, mostly within the social and medical sector, to signal and handle cases of FGM. Youth Health Care developed a Statement on the Prevention of FGM and implemented a Communication Protocol[2] from 2005 regarding genital mutilation of girls, to support early signalling of cases. An Action Protocol on genital mutilation of minors[3] was also implemented in 2013 informing police, the Focal Points Child Abuse and the Council for Child Protection and providing information on ways to act.

Within this context, a Model protocol on medical care for women and girls[4] with FGM was developed by the Dutch Association for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2010. The Protocol is aimed at presenting recommendations on how professionals can deliver medical, psychosocial and sexual care to girls and women who are victims of FGM covering following a multi-dimensional approach.

The Model protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM describes the role of different professionals being confronted with (potential) cases of FGM. It also informs professionals on the position of several professional organisations regarding FGM and recommendations concerning ways to act in case of (risk of) FGM.

Health professionals’ role in the protocol

Obstetricians and gynaecologists role in the chain of prevention is the following. During intake, they declare if the woman has undergone FGM or of she originates from a country where FGM is prevalent. During pregnancy, the professional discusses FGM in relation to possible physical consequences and impact on delivery. When a girl is born, the issue of FGM is addressed, including the health risks for girls and women, legal regulations in the Netherlands and the role of youth health care workers in preventing FGM.

Health care workers are also urged to report (potential) cases of FGM to the Inspection for Health Care (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg IGZ). Since 2011, youth health care workers register the risk of FGM in a digital file. They gather information concerning several risk factors regarding FGM. They register for example if the mother or sisters of the child have undergone FGM, if the parents originate from a country where FGM is prevalent, etc.

Several actions regarding national registration, signalling and reporting of cases of FGM, for professionals from different sectors (youth health care workers, general practitioners, obstetricians, gynaecologists, professionals working in the field of child abuse etc.) are described. All cases of FGM among pregnant women should be registered in the Perinatal Registration Netherlands database. The Perinatal Registration Netherlands (PRN) is an organisation that brings together the different Dutch professional organisations working in the field of perinatal care, and is responsible for collection of perinatal data. At the request of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), being responsible for policies on FGM, the registration of FGM was included in their registration system. The PRN dataset 2014 includes codes on ‘FGM status’ and ‘type of FGM’, providing insights on the number of women with FGM in the Netherlands. PRN cooperates with several (inter)national institutions including the Ministry of VWS and the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).

The Protocol main success factor is related to the fact that it is a joint initiative of several medical professional organisations for registering and reporting of (potential) cases of FGM. Moreover, the protocol is not only aimed at prevention, but also at urgent aid and long-term care following the Dutch chain approach from prevention to treatment.

[1] Maria Exterkate, Female Genital Mutilation in the Netherlands. Prevalence, incidence and determinants, January 2013, Pharos Centre of Expertise on Health for Migrants and Refugees

[2] Gespreksprotocol JGZ.

[3] Handelingsprotocol VGV bij minderjarigen (AMK 2013 Pharos De Jager).

[4] Modelprotocol medische zorg voor vrouwen en meisjes met VGV NVOG (2010) Nederlandse Vereniging voor Obstetrie en Gynaecologie.

Contacts/Further Information

Contacts

Koninklijke Nederlandse Organisatie van Verloskundigen (KNOV)

Mercatorlaan 1200

3528 BL Utrecht

The Netherlands

0031 30 282 31 00

www.knov.nl

info@knov.nl

 

Stichting Perinatale Registratie Nederland (Chantal Hukkelhoven)

Mercatorlaan 1200

3528 BL Utrecht

The Netherlands

0031 30 28 23 165

www.perinatreg.nl

info@perinatreg.nl

Further information

Nederlandse Vereniging voor Obstetrie en Gynaecologie (NVOG) (2010). Modelprotocol medische zorg voor vrouwen en meisjes met VGV.

Perinatal Registration Netherlands Dataset (including FGM)

Van De Stouwe R., Aalhuizen I. & Aitink M. (2012). KNOV-Standpunt VGV. Utrecht: KNOV.

Pijpers F., Exterkate M. & De Jager M. (2010). Standpunt Preventie Vrouwelijke Genitale Verminking. Bilthoven: RIVM/Centrum Jeugdgezondheid

More on good practices

Administrative data collection on violence against women: Good practices (publication)

EIGE's collection of good practices

EIGE's approach to good practices

Downloads

Model protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM
EN (PDF, 911.48 KB)

Metadata

Tool:
Administrative dataset, Awareness-raising, Monitoring
  • A joint initiative of health professionals: the protocol medical care for women and girls with FGM
  • FGM as a very serious and damaging form of child abuse
  • FGM data estimation
  • An integrated chain approach
  • Medical and psycho-social care is vital
  • Health professionals’ role in the protocol
  • Contacts/Further Information
  • More on good practices
  • Downloads

Share:

Join EuroGender

EIGE’s online cooperation and consultation hub
EuroGender logo

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest EIGE's updates on a personalised basis. See all past newsletters.

Contact us

  • Email: eige.sec@eige.europa.eu
  • Operations: +370 5 215 7444
  • Administration: +370 5 215 7400
  • Contact form

Find us

image of map

Gedimino pr. 16, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania

Useful links

  • About EIGE
  • News
  • Recruitment
  • Topics
  • Country information

EIGE in social media

  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Youtube
  • Follow us on Linkedin
EIGE logo
Making equality between women and men a reality for all Europeans and beyond
 

© 2021 European Institute for Gender Equality

Help us improve

Take me to top

  • Web Accessibility
  • Legal notices
  • Personal Data Protection
  • Cookies Policy
  • The UK on EIGE's website
  • Contact us
  • Login