Female Genital Mutilation Safeguarding victims: Prevention & Protection in Practice Dr. Mwenya Chimba Violence Against Women Director BAWSO November 2012
Who We Are and what We Do Established in 1995 An All Wales Voluntary organisation, providing specialist holistic services to Black and Minority Ethnic people, made homeless through a threat of domestic abuse or fleeing domestic abuse. Affiliated to Welsh Women s Aid organisations Accredited Support Provider of the Welsh Assembly Government 2
What is FGM Female Genital Mutilation [also called female genital cutting ] comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons (World Health Organisation, 2008) FGM can be performed as early as infancy and as late as 30 years but mostly between 2 and 14 years. 11/8/2012 3
Classifications of FGM Clitoridectomy - Involves the removal of the prepuce with or without excision of all or part of the clitoris Excision - Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora (FGM types I and II constitute 80% of female genital mutilation performed world-wide) Infibulation -Excision of part or all of the external genitalia (the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora) with stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening. It constitutes 15% of mutilations performed world-wide Unclassified - all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area. 4
Why communities practise FGM Improve fertility and prevent mortality Slipping of rings through the labia majora of female to prevent pregnancy( Arab societies) Preserve virginity & honour Initiation rite -as a form of rite of passage from childhood to womanhood in some communities If it touches the head of a baby during birth the child will be cursed or die 11/8/2012 5
Where is FGM Practised? It is estimated that approximately 138 million African women have undergone FGM world wide with a further 2 million at risk annually (WHO) Up to 80% have undergone type I or II of FGM Approximately over 24,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in England & Wales (FORWARD 2011) 11/8/2012 6
Where is FGM Practised? Cont. FGM is practiced in more than half of the communities in Sub Saharan Africa- in 28 out of 43 countries Prevalence varies from 98% in countries like Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Guinea to 5% in the DRC and Uganda. 11/8/2012 7
Where is FGM Practised? Cont. 11/8/2012 8
Where is FGM Practised? Cont In the Middle East in countries like: Egypt -96% Oman in the Southern coastal regions Iraq-74% among rural Kurdish women in Northern region Malaysia- 95% in the Northern region Pakistan - among the Bohra Muslims in Sindh & Punjab provinces Saudi Arabia-among Bedouin tribes and residents of Heja 11/8/2012 9
Inside a Female-Circumcision Ceremony in Indonesia
Instruments used to perform FGM
FGM in the UK & Wales Approximately 86,000 women have undergone FGM in the UK 24,000 girls below the age of 15 remain at high risk of being forced to undergo the most severe form of FGM (FORWARD) Those at risk live in the major cities of UK including London, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham and Cardiff 11/8/2012 12
FGM in England and Wales 11/8/2012 13
Women s voices FGM represents a massacre of the perfection that God has made. It goes against God s law to hurt any human being like that. If you don t choose to be circumcised you can not become a woman in the whole sense. And we don t know any different. 11/8/2012 14
Men s perspective I realized that women s bodies are fine as they are, but I also wanted my wife to be virgin. My father told me that in order to be a virgin the girl must be circumcised My own wife had problems during labour because of a botched circumcision, I had never been against the practice, but that day something changed. But I ll tell my son that women don t have to be circumcised that era is over, 11/8/2012 15
FGM & the Law 13 countries in Africa are implementing legislation against FGM 16 countries have criminal legislation against FGM in place There have been no known prosecutions in the UK due to lack of hard evidence to prosecute perpetrators 11/8/2012 16
FGM & the Law cont Very few prosecutions in Europe because of: Lack of legislation - 3 countries in Europe have specific laws prohibiting FGM (Norway, Sweden & UK) In France there have been 25 prosecutions since 1978 under the penal code In 1993 a medical practitioner was charged with performing female circumcision, with the full knowledge that the practice was illegal. He was found guilty and can no longer practice his profession. 11/8/2012 17
FGM in the UK The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it illegal to participate in any sort of arrangement for FGM to be performed on another, inside or outside of the UK. The penalty for aiding, abetting, counseling, procuring or carrying out FGM either inside or outside of the UK is 14 years of imprisonment or a fine or both. 11/8/2012 18
Child protection Working Together to Safeguard Children. A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. May exercise its powers under Section.47 of the Children Act 1989 A prohibited steps order can be put in place. UK Parliamentary Hearings on FGM in May 2000 recommended that FGM should be categorised as a form of abuse on child protection literature and Social Services departments trained on FGM. 11/8/2012 19
FGM & Human Rights The UN declaration of Human Rights (1948) & International covenant on civil & Political Rights (1966) The right to life and physical integrity including freedom from violence The Declaration on the Elimination of violence against women (1993). Article 2 states that all violence against women shall be understood to include female genital mutilation & other traditional practices harmful to women. 11/8/2012 20
FGM & Human Rights cont. The toleration of these acts by authorities, or the unwillingness to provide protection against them, amounts to official acquiescence (UNHCR, 2004) 11/8/2012 21
What are we doing to safeguard victims? We provide information and advice to women from practising communities Signpost referrals to other relevant services Support in accessing health and social care 11/8/2012 22
What are we doing to safeguard victims? Cont. Support in identifying local support groups and networks Liaise with schools and health professionals Support to access counselling services 11/8/2012 23
Safeguarding victims cont. We provide language support to women victims & others in need Ensure access to capacity building training for the women to build their confidence 11/8/2012 24
Prevention & protection Liaising with social services to ensure that a plan of action for children at risk of FGM is put in place and a prohibitive steps order can be put on the child to stop the family from taking the child out of the country Enforcing supervision order Get other agencies to be educated on monitoring children at risk of FGM when they go away for long periods (schools). 11/8/2012 25
Prevention & protection cont. Providing information to practising communities. Working with professional practitioners to identify signs of risk to undergo FGM or having undergone FGM (GPs, teachers, Social services, health visitors/midwives). 11/8/2012 26
Prevention & Protection Campaigns March 2011-FGM guidelines for agencies were produced. Lobby agencies, Institutions and the Government to treat FGM in the same way as forced marriage and develop a tool to prevent FGM. 11/8/2012 27
Challenges in Encountered Cultural sensitivities Lack of awareness Focus on Health implications of FGM at the peril of losing human rights infringements FGM vs FCGS (Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery) Is it not just a case of us and them? 11/8/2012 28
What is FCGS? Reduction of the labia minora and/or clitoral hood and/or clitoral body Reduction or augmentation of the labia majora Liposuction or augmentation of the mons pubis Reduction of the introitus Revirgination Vaginal tightening G-spot amplification
Further reading FORWARD, 2002 Promoting change, wellbeing & Human dignity FORWARD February 16 th 2011 press release FORWARD 2005, Razor s Edge The Controversy of female genital mutilation. IRIN Web Special www.fgm.org www.bbc.co.uk -12/05/2011 www.reproductiverights.org 11/8/2012 30
Thank you BAWSO 9 Cathedral Road Tel:02920 644 633 www.bawso.org.uk Cardiff CF11 9HA 11/8/2012 31