Female genital mutilation (FGM) – Rise in Referrals

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is illegal in the UK (since 1985) and Egypt whilst also being an act of violation of female human rights and abuse towards females.   UNICEF (2019) identifies that each year, around 4 million girls worldwide are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM), with most girls cut before the age of 15.  FGM refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (UNICEF, 2021).  It is shared that while the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM remains unknown, but there are at least 200 million girls and women who have been cut in 30 countries (UNICEF, 2021). This includes countries from the Atlantic coast to the Horn of Africa with wide variations in the prevalence depending on the country.  The risk factors to FGM are many such as cause of severe bleeding, problems urinating, later cysts, infections as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of new born deaths (WHO, 2022).  Recently, BBC evidenced that there is a rise in referrals for support with females who have undergone FGM in the West Midlands.  BBC (2022) identified that 1 in 5 females have had FGM in the West Midlands with over 200 referrals in 2020.  However, it was stressed that this would increase due to the Pandemic.  So why are we not fighting together to end this practice? 

Evidence suggests that there is enough knowledge and understanding about the impact of FGM in the UK, but there are very few studies and identification in the knowledge about FGM in the communities themselves (Cohen et al., 2017).  As a result, the communities continue FGM practices even though under the Serious Crime Act 2015 it is a mandatory duty for health, social care and education professionals to report to the police all girls under 18 years who disclose FGM or show physical signs of FGM (Ali, 2020).  Additionally, the FGM Act 2003 has made it a criminal offence to take a UK national or resident abroad for FGM.  Although, these reports suggest that the prevalence may be under-estimated due to non-detection of children undergoing the procedure outside UK and not being followed up.  For example, Colinson and Furst (2019) have reported that FGM is increasingly performed on babies and infants in the UK but it is ‘almost impossible’ for the authorities to detect it.  This is because they are not at school or nurseries, proving difficult for public awareness, leading to perform FGM at a young age and evading the law.  Hence, there continues to be a high awareness in tackling FGM, such as the campaign led by Leyla Hussain who speaks about the pressures British school girls have from their fellow students into having FGM.   Even though figures show that many living in the UK have had FGM before they arrived, there is still the pressure in having it done.  Therefore, it is urged for more frequent reporting by medical and police services to protect females and achieve successful prosecutions.  Furthermore, Karlsen et al., (2020) stresses within their study that FGM affected females are committed to eradicate FGM but there needs to be a consistency and continuation of work within the health and statutory services to realise the implications of this practice.  This includes having more medical literature around FGM in the UK, particularly in the paediatrics population (Ali et al., 2020). 

Having stressed the impact of FGM on human rights for girls and women, it is important that we all take part in protecting individuals from FGM, including policy makers and practices.  As evidenced from the FGM victims, it highlights the impact on their mental well being but also the widespread of this illegal activity comes at a high social cost to families.  ‘Research among migrant populations suggests a cultural change towards abandonment of the practice’ (Ali, 2020, 1078). Whilst, there also needs to be further research on trends and attitudes of practising communities living in the UK. ‘The impact on communities of FGM protection orders, mandatory reporting and social care investigations on the practice of FGM needs further evaluation, while UK policy continues to support a widespread prevention campaign’ (Ali, 2020, p.1078).  This has been highlighted and stressed in the recent BBC programme (2022) where more strict rules within policy, practice and intervention will be taken to prevent the FGM practices but also support those who have undergone this procedure.   

Reference List

Ali, S., Patel, R., Armitage, A.J., Learner, H.I., Creighton, S.M. and Hodes, D., 2020. Female genital mutilation (FGM) in UK children: a review of a dedicated paediatric service for FGM. Archives of disease in childhood, 105(11), pp.1075-1078.

BBC (2018) Hussein, L. (2018) UK schoolgirls pressured into FGM, campaigner says. URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45442795 (Accessed 31/1/2022)

BBC (2019) Collinson, A. and Furst, J. (2019) FGM 'increasingly performed on UK babies'. URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47076043 (Accessed on 31/1/2022)

BBC (2022) FGM victim urges others to seek help and support. URL:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-60085476 (Accessed on 24/1/2022)

Cohen, P., Larsson, M., Hann, G., Creighton, S. and Hodes, D., 2017. The reality of FGM in the UK. Archives of disease in childhood, pp.archdischild-2017.

UNICEF (2019) What is female genital mutilation? 7 questions answered: How the harmful practice affects millions of girls worldwide.  Available on:  https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-you-need-know-about-female-genital-mutilation (Accessed 24/1/2022)

UNICEF (2021) Female Genital Mutilation. URL: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/female-genital-mutilation/ (Accessed (29/1/2022)

WHO (2022) Female Genital Mutilation. URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation (Accessed on 31/1/2022)