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Female Genital Mutilation

Overview

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there’s no medical reason for this to be done. FGM is also referred to as female circumcision or cutting as well as many other names including: sunna, gudniin and tahur but these other terms have been criticised for underplaying the severity of FGM or being used to justify it. FGM is not advocated for by any religion – it is a cultural issue. FGM has no health benefits for girls but instead causes adverse effects like severe bleeding, problems urinating, infections, and problems in childbirth or even death. FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. FGM is illegal in the UK and is classed as child abuse as it causes significant harm both physically and psychologically. If someone is found guilty of carrying out this procedure (or arranging for it to be carried out – in the UK or elsewhere) on a young girl or woman it can lead to up to 14 years imprisonment. It is also a criminal offence to fail to protect girls from FGM.

The justifications for FGM vary between cultures, families and communities. The most common reasons given are:

• Belief that it is a necessary part of raising a girl, it prepares her for adulthood and marriage.
• It is a social norm in many places, so FGM is performed so that girls are accepted socially in their community as there is a lot of pressure on them to conform.
• FGM is often driven by ideas about acceptable sexual behaviour. It is believed in some communities that FGM ensures premarital virginity and marital fidelity. It is also believed to reduce a women’s libido, to help her resist extramarital sexual acts.
• It is thought that girls must be clean and beautiful so the removal of body parts that are considered unclean, unfeminine or male is promoted.

Families in the UK that belong to communities that have practiced FGM in their country of origin or in the past, may well think of FGM as an abhorrent practice that they would not consider inflicting on their children. While the risk is still there for some children, it is important not to stigmatise whole communities or jump to assumptions. However, the practice has not yet been eradicated and children who have arrived as refugees from war zones or refugee camps may be most at risk or may have already undergone FGM, and some girls are at risk in their family home.

Signs a girl is at risk or has already undergone FGM include:

• The family belongs to a community that practices FGM and they are preparing their child for a holiday e.g. vaccinations, planning absence from school (please note, a family going to visit relatives or on holiday is a normal thing so be sensitive and think about whether there are other risk factors that make this concerning).
• The child has talked about a special procedure/ceremony that is going to take place.
• If the child comes back from a prolonged absence with a behaviour change or bladder/menstrual problems.
• They may find it hard to sit still and complain about pain between their legs.
• If a child has said someone did something to them but they aren’t allowed to talk about it.

Key Facts

• It is estimated that approximately 60,000 girls aged 0-14 were born in England and Wales to mothers who had undergone FGM⁴
• 137,000 girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM in the UK2.
• FGM procedures are usually carried out outside of the UK.
• FGM Protection Orders can be applied for by a local authority; or any other person with the permission of the court (for example, the police, a teacher, a charity or a family member)³.

Best Practice

Resources

Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board procedures re. FGM.

Sheffield FGM pathway.

Sheffield FGM Strategy.

Government Female Genital Mutilation Resource Pack.

FGM Schools Guidance 18.06.2019 (nationalfgmcentre.org.uk)

Short video explaining different types of FGM and its complications.

Video about FGM. 3 women share their stories plus professional opinions

Easy read leaflet available to order from Building Bridges

References

¹ https://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/282388/FGM-statistics-finalreport-21-07-15-released-text.pdf.

² ibid.

³ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fgm-protection-orders-factsheet.

⁴ https://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/563219/FGM-statistics-final-report-21-07-15-released-text.pdf