Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as 'female circumcision’ or ‘female genital cutting' is a form of child abuse, of gender-based violence against women and is a Human Rights violation. It is illegal in the United Kingdom, and it’s also illegal to take abroad a British national or permanent resident for FGM, or to help someone trying to do this.
FGM is a criminal offence in England and Wales and there is mandatory reporting duty which requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report ‘known’ cases of FGM in under 18s which they identify in the course of their professional work to the police. FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.
This page on the government website gives relevant professionals and the police an understanding of the female genital mutilation (FGM) mandatory reporting duty: Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation: procedural information
You can find help from the following organisations:
UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/female-genital-mutilation-help-advice
The NSPCC here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/
ForwardUK: https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/female-genital-mutilation/
National FGM Centre: https://nationalfgmcentre.org.uk/fgm/
Karma Nirvana - for people affected by Honour Based Abuse: https://karmanirvana.org.uk/get-help/helpline/
Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU): https://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
A list of other organisations can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-resource-pack/female-genital-mutilation-resource-pack#support-organisations-helplines-and-clinics
In Scotland you can contact:
