Transcript Female genital Mutilation
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Partnership Team
Detective Constable Jo Witcomb
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Project Azure
Female Genital Mutilation
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
What is FGM?
All procedures which involve the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non therapeutic reasons The World Health Organisation
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Who is Affected?
• Worldwide – 140 Million girls and
women have been affected
• UK – 24,000 girls at risk annually • London – 6,500 girls at risk annually
2007 Prevalence Study by FORWARD UK Commissioned by DoH
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Human Rights
“ FGM’ is a fundamental human rights issue with adverse health & social implications… (it) violates the rights of girls and women to their bodily integrity and results in perpetuating gender inequality” UK All Parliamentary Group on Population Development and Reproductive Health (2000
)
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Isn’t it the same as Male Circumcision?
“If a boy or man underwent the same degree of mutilation as a young woman undergoing the most common form of FGM, he would have the head of his penis and around a third of the shaft removed” World Health Organisation
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Types of FGM
• I - removal of the clitoral hood with or without the removal of the clitoris • II - removal of the clitoris and partial or total removal of the vaginal lips • III - removal of the clitoris, vaginal lips and the stitching of the vagina, leaving a 1-2cm opening • IV - piercing the clitoris, cauterisation, cutting the vagina, inserting corrosive substances, stretching of the vaginal lips…….
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Where does it happen?
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Senegal Gambia Iran Guinea-Bissau Sierra Leone Liberia Mauritania Mali Malaysia Cote D’Ivore Burkina Benis Togo Nigeria Iraq Chad Niger Djibouti Central African Republic UAE Egypt Sudan Eritrea Ethiopia Somalia Kenya Sudan Tanzania Uganda Pakistan Sri Lanka Indonesia Kurdish Communities India
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND THE LAW
Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 Penalty – 5 years imprisonment
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
Penalty –
14 years imprisonment
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
FGM Act 2003
Offence to commit FGM [S1] Offence to assist a girl to commit FGM on herself [S2] Offence for someone in the UK to arrange or assist FGM outside of UK even if carried out by a person who isn’t a UK national or resident [S3] Any act done outside UK by UK National or resident [S4]
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND The Law – the technical bits!
• NO AGE LIMIT - ‘Girl = woman’ • Defence = If it is a surgical operation necessary for physical / mental health • Mental health does not include belief that FGM is required as a matter of custom or ritual • ‘ Designer Vagina ’
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There have been NO prosecutions under FGM legislation in the UK…
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Some Barriers to Reporting…
Children are unlikely to ‘tell on their parents’ Many from loving / caring families Once in a lifetime event Honour Based Violence Community Acceptance / Marriage Victim’s maybe too young to remember Language / Immigration status Unaware of the law Lack of understanding of health implications
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Summer is for Fun… …Not for Pain!
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Indicators - FGM maybe about to happen…
• Family from a practicing community; • Extended holiday, particularly to a practicing country; • Child is going to “become a woman” or have a “special celebration”; • Child may begin to display a behavioural change……
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Indicators - FGM has already taken place…
• Girl may spend long periods of time away from the classroom associated with bladder or menstrual problems; • The child requiring to be excused from physical exercise; • Prolonged absences from School plus a noticeable behaviour change…..
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND London Safeguarding Children’s Board FGM Resource Pack
• National Information & Resources • Signposting for additional support • Specialised information for Health • Available On-line / Hard Copies • Complement the GEO FGM Factsheet • Suitable for practicing communities
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND Project Azure
• Prevention campaigns • Awareness & Training • Advice, Support & Guidance • Intelligence opportunities • Partnership working • Stop FGM Now!
(DVD)
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND