What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?

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Female genital mutilation (FGM) is “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” (World Health Organization).

FGM is also sometimes known as ‘cutting’ or ‘female circumcision’.

The origin of FGM is complex and not fully known, and is not supported by any religion.

FGM has no health benefits and can cause short-term and long-term harm to physical and mental health.

What FGM support services are available?

Immediate danger

if you are or someone you know are in immediate risk call 999 for the Police
if you know a British national who’s already been taken abroad for the purpose of FGM, contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 1500

National/London Support Services

NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline
Contact anonymously if a child (under 18) is at risk
FGM.Help@nspcc.org.uk or call 0800 028 3550
FORWARD
Help to access FGM specialist clinics, including accompaniment and support in translation (Arabic, Somali, Amharic, French, and others)
support@forwarduk.org.uk or call 020 89604000
The Vavengers
FGM Awareness and Support Hubs
info@thevavengers.co.uk

The Dahlia Project
A specialist service for women who have undergone, including therapeutic support groups and individual counselling.
dahlia@manorgardenscentre.org or call 0207 281 9478

Local Support Services

Whipps Cross Hospital FGM Clinic
bartshealth.fgmwhipps@nhs.net or call 020 7377 9643
Waha clinic: Fridays (every 2 weeks) 9am to 5pm
Walk-in clinic: last Friday morning of the month
Ashiana Network
Advice and support for South Asian, Turkish and Iranian victims and survivors of domestic abuse
info@ashiana.org.uk or call 020 8539 0427
Kiran Support Services
Advice and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse from Asian backgrounds.
Info@kiranss.org.uk or call 020 8558 1986
IMECE
Advice and support for survivors of domestic abuse from Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot backgrounds
info@imece.org.uk or call 020 7354 1359
Solace Women’s Aid
Domestic abuse advocacy service for victims and survivors of domestic abuse
walthamforestidsvaservice@solacewomensaid.org or call 07340 683382
Southall Black Sisters
Advice and support for Black, African, or Caribbean Women, as well as victims and survivors of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds
info@southallblacksisters.co.uk 020 8571 0800

What are your rights and what does the law say about FGM?

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a criminal offence.

It is a form of violence against women and girls. FGM on a girl is child abuse (CPS).

The Female Genital Mutilation Act was introduced in 2003.

The act:

makes it illegal to practice FGM in the UK
makes it illegal to take girls who are British nationals or permanent residents of the UK abroad for FGM whether or not it is lawful in that country
makes it illegal to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of FGM abroad
has a penalty of up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine

An FGM Protection Order (FGMPO) is civil order which can be applied for through the family courts. It can be made to protect a girl or woman at risk of FGM or protecting a girl, or woman against whom an FGM offence has been committed.

An application for an FGMPO can be made to the family court by a victim, local authorities, or any other person with the permission of the court. There is a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment for breach of a FGMPO (CPS).

FGM Act 2003 introduced a mandatory duty to report known cases of FGM in girls under the age of 18. The legislation requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to make a report to the police where, in the course of their professional duties, they either:

are informed by a girl under 18 that an act of FGM has been carried out on her; or
observe physical signs which appear to show that an act of FGM has been carried out on a girl under 18 and they have no reason to believe that the act was necessary for the girl's physical or mental health or for purposes connected with labour or birth.

Violence against women and girls