Shahin Ashraf National Lead, FGM Shahin@mwnuk.co.uk Twitter: @shahinuashraf
Violence against Women & Girls (VAWG) VAWG is as a cause and consequence of women and girls unequal status and structures of patriarchy which is at the heart of violence, which pervades and manifests in different ways across all our societies and communities.
Violence against women and girls exists in every culture, every country, every community in the world. It can be perpetrated by intimate partners, parents, children, schoolmates, work colleagues, religious leaders, governments What it looks like can vary Muslim Women's Network
Different form of Violence Against Women and Girls Violence in the family, Domestic and intimate partner violence, Sexual violence (including rape), Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), Forced Marriage Child marriage. Muslim Women's Network
Why does VAWG take place? Violence against women and girls takes many forms, and for Muslim women there are additional forms of violence rooted in culture/traditions/customs that they may have to contend with... Muslim Women's Network
What is FGM/FGC? All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitals or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons". (WHO, 2008) Muslim Women's Network
DIFFERENT TYPES Muslim Women's Network
Why is FGM Performed and What is the motivation for FGM? Hygiene Gender based factors Cultural identity Religion Muslim Women's Network
FGM is reinforced through Myths Without FGM, her genitals will smell Without FGM girls will be promiscuous If clitoris is not cut it will carry on growing If clitoris is not cut - it will harm the husband Without FGM, girls will become infertile If the clitoris is not cut, will kill baby on birth It is a part of religion e.g. it is a religious obligation
Different Types of FGM Muslim Women's Network
Type 4 All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example pricking, piercing, incision or scraping and cauterization. Muslim Women's Network
Female Circumcision Female Cutting Gudnin Halalays Tahur Sunna Khitan Kutairi Bondo Different terms used Muslim Women's Network
Muslim Women's Network
What other countries practice FGM? Muslim Women's Network
IMPACT of FGM Short term & Long term FGM Research Case Study 1, Survivor from Somalia, 47 Muslim Women's Network
Psychological Impact What are the Psychological implications? FGM Research Case Study 2, Survivor from Djibouti, 26
FGM a social convention? Where FGM is a social convention, the social pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing is a strong motivation to perpetuate the practice.
Religious Position on FGM Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), is a practice that predates Islam as well as Christianity and Judaism.
How many young girls are at risk in the UK? Recent estimates published in July 2014 indicate that 137,000 women and girls affected by FGM, born in countries where FGM is practised, were permanently resident in England and Wales in 2011. 10,000 girls aged 0-14 born in FGM practising countries who have undergone or are likely to undergo FGM.
What does the law say? Female genital mutilation became illegal in the UK in 1985 under the Female Genital Mutilation Act. This was later replaced by the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 to extend the legislation to include anyone taking a girl or woman outside of the UK to perform FGM. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
If you know someone at risk Contact the NSPCC anonymously if you re worried that a girl or young woman is at risk of FGM or is a victim of FGM. MWNUK 0121-236-9000 FGM Helpline Email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Telephone: 0800 028 3550 If you know someone in immediate danger Contact the police if you think that a girl or young woman is in immediate danger of FGM.
ANY QUESTIONS? Shahin@mwnuk.co.uk/ Twitter: @shahinuashraf