In the Netherlands, many girls face the threat of female genital mutilation. Over 2,600 young migrant girls may be subjected to this horrific procedure, prompting the Dutch authorities to potentially intensify protective measures. The existence of this real danger was revealed by the Dutch television channel NOS, citing specialized experts. According to their assessments, the peak of this threat traditionally occurs during the summer school holidays, when children travel for vacations or to visit relatives in their families’ countries of origin, primarily Somalia and Sudan, where such rituals remain widely practiced.
In an interview with journalists, international law expert Annemarie Middelburg highlighted that pressure from older family members often serves as a decisive factor. She explained that even families who have lived in the kingdom for several decades and obtained citizenship frequently continue to adhere to the established customs of their communities. Consequently, she urged medical professionals and educators working with children to remain particularly vigilant and to pay attention to so-called danger markers—such as girls’ accounts of an impending “celebration” or initiation rite linked to “coming of age.”
Furthermore, Middelburg proposed introducing legislative mechanisms that would allow authorities to restrict a child’s travel abroad, including confiscating passports and limiting contact with relatives, at the slightest suspicion that the procedure is being prepared. However, as the television channel notes, the country’s Ministry of Justice is still analyzing this issue and does not plan to announce an official position before early 2027.
It should be noted that such operations themselves are outlawed in the Netherlands and classified as causing bodily harm, despite remaining widespread in many African nations.
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