Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Transcription

1 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

2 What is violence against women and girls? violence that is directed at a woman because she is a woman, or acts of violence which are suffered disproportionally by women

3 FGM VAWG brings together 8 strands of policy under one umbrella: 1. domestic violence 2. sexual violence 3. stalking 4. trafficking for sexual exploitation 5. prostitution 6. female genital mutilation (FGM) 7. forced marriage 8. crimes said to be committed in the name of honour.

4 What is FGM? The World Health (WHO) describes FGM as: procedures that intentionally alter, remove or cause injury to the female genital organs for cultural, non-medical reasons and with no health benefits.

5 What is FGM? The World Health (WHO) classifies FGM into four types: Type I Partial or total removal of the clitoris and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce. Type II Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia major.

6 What is FGM? The World Health (WHO) classifies FGM into four types: Type III Narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.

7 What is FGM? The World Health (WHO) classifies FGM into four types: Type IV All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for nonmedical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

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9 Who practises it? 2-3 million girls mutilated each year [WHO] about million women in African and Middle Eastern countries affected [WHO] an estimated 20,000 girls under the age of 15 in the UK (or England/Wales) each year 66,000 women living with FGM in the UK (or England/Wales) majority of cases of FGM are thought to take place between the ages of 5 and 8 average age is 14.

10 Practising communities

11 What do you think the reasons are for performing FGM?

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13 I am a member of the old mothers, and all girls are to be cut. They are to be cut so the man does not reject her, so she has to be closed. We do FGM so that she is pretty and gets married. If a man finds she has the goods [clitoris] the man will divorce her. She will be shamed; married yesterday and divorced today. I heard that a man found out his wife was not cut and he divorced her there and then. So the woman is not disliked by men; her goods are taken care of very well by us. When the man looks and sees there is nothing there he is happy and knows that she is a clean woman. Then we call the Doctor and open her for the wedding night.

14 Impacts pyschological trauma complications affecting sexual intercourse complications in child-birth chronic vaginal and pelvic infections difficulties with menstruation difficulties in passing urine and chronic urine infections renal impairment and possible renal failure damage to the reproductive system, including infertility lack of sexual pleasure and/or pain during sex increased risk of HIV and other STIs death

15 Impacts of being protected from FGM sense of identity within family and community distress, guilt, shame at involving services / practitioners damage to attachment with parents these can have negative impacts on emotional and physical development of the child.

16 Indicators The mother or any sisters have experienced FGM She has a parent from a practising community She and her family have a low level of integration into their local community She is withdrawn from PSHE She has talked about, or you know about, the arrival of a female family elder

17 Indicators She talks about it to other children She refers to a special procedure or special occasion or become a woman She is out of the country for a prolonged period She is taking a long holiday to her country of origin or another country where the practice is prevalent (parents may talk about it too

18 Indicators it has happened. A girl has problems walking/standing/sitting A girl doesn t take part in Physical Education or swimming She spends a long time in the bathroom/toilet She has bladder or menstrual problems She has prolonged or repeated absences from school She has a reluctance to undergo pelvic medical examinations She is asking for help but giving a lack of explicit information A change in behaviour or demeanour.

19 The law It is illegal to perform, or arrange for someone to perform, FGM in the UK (regardless of the nationality or immigration status or the perpetrator(s) or victim) It is illegal to perform, or arrange for someone to perform, FGM abroad (when either the perpetrator or victim is a UK national/permanent resident) It is illegal for any person to encourage or assists a girl who is a UK national to carry out FGM on themselves, anywhere.

20 Talking about FGM

21 Referral pathway

22 Policies, guidance and advice London Safeguarding Children s Board FGM resource pack plus supplementary Safeguarding Children at Risk of Abuse through Female Genital Mutilation procedures HM Government s FGM Multi-agency Practice Guidelines Female Genital Mutilation: Caring for patients and safeguarding children - British Medical Association (July 2011) Tackling FGM in the UK The Royal College of Midwives (November 2013)

23 Stay in touch Sophie Taylor Violence Against Women and Girls Training and Awareness Officer Tel: