​In Portugal, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a criminal act since 2015, as defined in article 144º-A of the Penal Code, with an applicable sentence from two to ten years of imprisonment.

The Portuguese legislation allows the adoption of measures protecting little girls or women at risk of being taken to other countries in order to be submitted to the practice of FGM.

As authority responsible for the control of persons in borders and of foreign nationals in the national territory, the Immigration and Borders Service has been developing several initiatives in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation:

- Acts, under its competences and in close cooperation with the judicial authorities and other entities with competence in matter of childhood and youth, on situations of FGM or the risk of practice of FGM coming to its attention;

- Participates actively in the Working Group on Female Genital Mutilation (GT-MGF), created in 2009 and coordinated by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), with the purpose to implement public politics on prevention and fighting against FGM.

- Participates in campaigns and/or awareness actions which are being developed by CIG and/or other entities integrating the Working Group, within immigrant communities and national airports;

- Promotes internal training actions on the issue of FGM to collaborators in functions in borders and remainder organic units.

More information at:

Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality

Awareness Campaign - “Do not cut the Future!”