Female Genital Mutilation Policy and Awareness 1. Introduction Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a collective term for procedures, which include the removal of part or all of the external female genitalia for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. The practice is medically unnecessary, extremely painful and has serious health consequences, both at the time when the mutilation is carried out and in later life. The age at which girls undergo FGM varies enormously according to the community however it is typically performed on girls aged between 5 and 8, but in some cases, it is performed on new-born infants or on young women before marriage or pregnancy. FGM is much more common than is generally realised both worldwide and in the UK. It is deeply embedded into the culture of communities and intervention by statutory agencies may be resented. FGM cannot be left to personal preference or cultural custom as it is an extremely harmful practice which violates basic human rights. FGM is illegal in the UK The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it an offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to carry out FGM abroad, or to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of FGM abroad, even in countries where the practice is legal. It is reportedly practiced in 28 African countries and in parts of the Middle East and Asia, but it is increasingly found in Western Europe and other developed countries. Victims of FGM are likely to come from a community that is known to practice FGM. UK Communities that are most at risk of FGM include Kenyan, Somali, Sudanese, Serra Leonean, Egyptian, Nigerian and Eritrean. Non-African communities include Yemeni, Afghani, Kurdish, Indonesia and Pakistani.
2. Referral and Assessment Specific factors that may heighten a girl’s or woman’s risk of being affected by FGM There are a number of factors in addition to a girl’s or woman’s community that could increase the risk that she will be subjected to FGM: