The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) has launched a new edition of the Postgraduate Programme on Female Genital Mutilation, reinforcing its commitment to human rights, gender equality, and public health.
At the official opening session, the Dean of NOVA NSPH, Sónia Dias, emphasised that this programme “represents more than a training course: it is a commitment by the country, public institutions, civil society, and academia to address a practice that constitutes a serious violation of human rights, a form of gender-based violence, and a significant public health issue”.
The postgraduate programme results from a strategic partnership between NOVA NSPH and several public entities directly involved in health, equality, and migration, reflecting an integrated and intersectoral approach to this public health and human rights issue. The training involves collaboration with organisations such as the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), and the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), as well as the government areas responsible for Health, Equality, and Immigration, strengthening coordination between public policies, professional practice, and academic knowledge production. The opening session was attended by the Deputy Secretary of State for Health and Equality.
Female genital mutilation continues to affect girls and women in various contexts, including in Portugal, where communities from countries where the practice persists reside. The physical, psychological, and social consequences of FGM are profound and, in many cases, irreversible, requiring qualified, coordinated, and culturally sensitive responses.
Specialist Training for Qualified Intervention
The postgraduate programme is aimed at health professionals and technicians who play a central role in identifying, monitoring, and protecting women and girls at risk. According to the Dean of NOVA NSPH, “no intervention can be truly effective without trained, informed professionals capable of acting with cultural sensitivity, clinical rigour, and legal security”.
The first edition of the course demonstrated very positive impacts, with high levels of participant satisfaction and clear contributions to professional practice. “We saw how this training strengthened institutional networks, brought partners closer together, and created greater coherence in field interventions”, she highlighted.
A More Robust Edition Aligned with Field Needs
The new edition of the Postgraduate Programme on Female Genital Mutilation presents updated scientific content and an even more integrated and interdisciplinary approach. Areas such as project management, inter-institutional coordination, and the inclusion of perspectives from community, technical, and clinical partners have been reinforced.
“Today, more than training professionals, we are creating benchmarks: people who will multiply knowledge, support teams, develop projects, and continue the national effort to prevent and eradicate Female Genital Mutilation”, stated the Dean.
With this programme, NOVA NSPH reaffirms the role of academia in knowledge production, professional capacity building, and support for evidence-based public policies. “We fully assume the responsibility to mobilise knowledge and support decisions based on data rather than perceptions, especially on sensitive, complex, and critical issues such as this”, she emphasised.
Addressing the students, the Dean also conveyed a message of recognition and responsibility: “Every well-prepared professional who identifies a case, supports a woman, or guides a family contributes concretely to breaking cycles of violence and protecting fundamental rights”.
The new edition of the Postgraduate Programme on Female Genital Mutilation reflects close collaboration between academia, governmental entities, and institutional partners, demonstrating a shared strategic vision and Portugal’s continued commitment to preventing and eradicating this practice.
