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Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C)

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C) refers to all procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs, involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.  It can include extreme pain, shock, infection and many other long term serious medical issues.

FGM is an unacceptable practice for which there is no justification. It is child abuse and a form of violence against women and girls.  It is illegal in the UK and some other countries.

FGM is practised in many parts of the world. It largely affects people who are from, or who are descendants of the sub-Saharan region of Africa but it is not exclusive to this region. It is also illegal in these countries where campaigns to end the practice are supported by governments there.  There are myths around a girl's marriageability that are carried through generations through the female lines.

There are no health benefits to FGM. Find out more about the medical aspects of FGM

  • It's often performed by someone with no medical training, using instruments such as knives, scalpels, scissors, glass or razor blades
  • Children are rarely given anaesthetic or antiseptic treatment and are often forcibly restrained
  • It's used to control female sexuality and can cause long-lasting damage to physical and emotional health

Some signs a girl could have been a victim of FGM:

  • changes in behaviour after an absence from school or college
  • missing school particularly after a trip to a country where FGM is common
  • spending longer than usual in the bathroom
  • avoiding going to the toilet
  • avoiding physical exercise
  • discomfort when sitting down
  • frequent menstrual or urinary infections
  • they have a female relative, such as a mother, sister or aunt who has undergone FGM
  • a family arranges a long holiday overseas or visits a family abroad during the school holidays
  • asking for help – though they might not be explicit about the problem

Girls often don't know FGM is going to take place so there may be few warning signs.

On 31 October 2015 a new duty was introduced that requires health and social care professionals and teachers to report ‘known’ cases of FGM in girls aged under 18 to the police. For example, if a doctor sees that a girl aged under 18 has had FGM they will need to make a report to the police. Or, if a girl tells her teacher that she has had FGM, the teacher will need to report this to the police.

  • Call the police on 999, or
  • Call the NSPCC 24/7 Helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email on help@NSPCC.org.uk
  • Call RBWM Safeguarding Partnership on 01628 796122

FGM flowchart

New duty for health and social care professionals and teachers to report female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police

You should also contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if she has already been taken abroad.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  • telephone: 020 7008 1500
  • from overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 1500
  • find out about call charges.

Further sources of information and resources

Safeguarding women and girls at risk of FGM - GOV.UK

Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation - GOV.UK

Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation: procedural information - GOV.UK

Female Genital Mutilation - Prevent & Protect | NSPCC

Female genital mutilation - GOV.UK

The Dahlia Project is a specialist service for women who have undergone FGM offering therapeutic support for FGM survivors.  For more information call 0207 281 9478.

dahliaproject.org

Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is when you face physical pressure to marry (for example, threats, physical violence or sexual violence) or emotional and psychological pressure (for example, if you’re made to feel like you’re bringing shame on your family).

If you’re under 18 any marriage is considered a forced marriage, even if there is no physical or emotional pressure involved.

Forced marriage is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:

  • taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
  • arranging a marriage for someone who lacks mental capacity (whether they’re pressured to or not)
  • arranging a marriage for someone before they turn 18

Forcing someone to marry can result in a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

Forced marriage - GOV.UK

Apply for a forced marriage protection order: Overview - GOV.UK