Female Genital Mutilation: FGM in the UK
2014
FGM is much more than a cultural tradition and it is not the sole concern of of either survivors or their communities. FGM is a serious infringement of a child's human rights, it is torture, it is violent subjugation of a defenceless child, it is a criminal offence, the physical and mental damage inflicted will cause pain and suffering, potentially for the victims entire life, negate the childs future sex drive and it is also a public health issue: Survivors of FGM generally have greater healthcare needs and may also be deterred from seeking help when they need it in order to avoid incriminating their parents. FGM was outlawed 30 years ago in the UK but we are now known as FGM Central' in Europe. If you are unaware of what FGM involves, it is the cutting off of the external genitalia of girls, the equivalent assault on a boy, of even the least severe type of FGM, would be the removal or cropping of his penis.
Many people in communities that inflict FGM are against the abuse and their role in ending it is indispensable. Several of those key people have worked tirelessly for years to end FGM and they are central to having an effective strategy.
Laws, in general, perform more than simply the function of punishment; laws are also cultural standards that bind communities together by identifying what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in society. All laws, in some way, inhibit some people from doing what they would otherwise do. In that way, laws always discriminates against a minority. However the benefit is that society is strengthened by having a common standard for everyone (in this case the UK community).
FGM is not unlike other forms of violence against women and girls in that it is frequently justified by culture being more important than the national law; eg it took a long time for other forms of domestic violence, such as beating up a partner, to be recognised as simply a violent, criminal offence and not 'a private matter between man and wife.'
As citizens we are jointly responsible for the community we live in and we all have responsibilities under Safeguarding legislation to act if we see someone at risk. Our government is the administrative arm of our community and it also has responsibilities. FGM is thought to have been around for thousands of years, to stop it will require all of us working together. It should not be left exclusively to members of communities that inflict FGM to lead the initiative, we must work across UK society to ensure that there are no 'no-go' areas.
Many mothers have absolutely no joy in arranging for the mutilation of their own daughters, especially since they are victims themselves and know of the pain and trauma involved, but the community pressure is frequently too strong for them to resist. The implementation of physical examinations (and the threat of prosecution) is a strong enough deterrent to give parents the power to stand up to community forces and to champion their daughters health and wellbeing. Sensitive examinations by well trained nursing and medical staff would empower community members to stand up for human rights.
The complete lack of successful prosecutions of FGM, in 30 years of criminal legislation, is undoubtedly one of the key reasons why the use of FGM is increasing rather than decreasing in the UK: The estimate now stands at 65,000 girls at risk in a year ("An unpunished crime" Julie Bindel). While there is considerable work to be done on raising awareness in both communities and among professionals, of how damaging FGM is to a girls’ short and long term physical and mental health, there are also important issues of human rights and how our society protects children. Parents and communities are an important part of caring for, protecting and making decisions for their children but the state also has responsibilities to protect children (even from parents) and it has a duty to uphold their human rights. The failure to provide adequate protection for one sector of society is very troubling and needs a proactive approach now.
In cases where people are concerned that a child may be being beaten or sexually abused the Safeguarding protocol provides for actions which can result in a sensitive, physical examination to establish the facts. The UK law allows for examinations in the case of FGM too but they are not taking place. Surely our responsibility as citizens is to press our government to ensure that all children in the UK are protected from violent abuse? I am calling for the government to take action now.
FGM is much more than a cultural tradition and it is not the sole concern of of either survivors or their communities. FGM is a serious infringement of a child's human rights, it is torture, it is violent subjugation of a defenceless child, it is a criminal offence, the physical and mental damage inflicted will cause pain and suffering, potentially for the victims entire life, negate the childs future sex drive and it is also a public health issue: Survivors of FGM generally have greater healthcare needs and may also be deterred from seeking help when they need it in order to avoid incriminating their parents. FGM was outlawed 30 years ago in the UK but we are now known as FGM Central' in Europe. If you are unaware of what FGM involves, it is the cutting off of the external genitalia of girls, the equivalent assault on a boy, of even the least severe type of FGM, would be the removal or cropping of his penis.
Many people in communities that inflict FGM are against the abuse and their role in ending it is indispensable. Several of those key people have worked tirelessly for years to end FGM and they are central to having an effective strategy.
Laws, in general, perform more than simply the function of punishment; laws are also cultural standards that bind communities together by identifying what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in society. All laws, in some way, inhibit some people from doing what they would otherwise do. In that way, laws always discriminates against a minority. However the benefit is that society is strengthened by having a common standard for everyone (in this case the UK community).
FGM is not unlike other forms of violence against women and girls in that it is frequently justified by culture being more important than the national law; eg it took a long time for other forms of domestic violence, such as beating up a partner, to be recognised as simply a violent, criminal offence and not 'a private matter between man and wife.'
As citizens we are jointly responsible for the community we live in and we all have responsibilities under Safeguarding legislation to act if we see someone at risk. Our government is the administrative arm of our community and it also has responsibilities. FGM is thought to have been around for thousands of years, to stop it will require all of us working together. It should not be left exclusively to members of communities that inflict FGM to lead the initiative, we must work across UK society to ensure that there are no 'no-go' areas.
Many mothers have absolutely no joy in arranging for the mutilation of their own daughters, especially since they are victims themselves and know of the pain and trauma involved, but the community pressure is frequently too strong for them to resist. The implementation of physical examinations (and the threat of prosecution) is a strong enough deterrent to give parents the power to stand up to community forces and to champion their daughters health and wellbeing. Sensitive examinations by well trained nursing and medical staff would empower community members to stand up for human rights.
The complete lack of successful prosecutions of FGM, in 30 years of criminal legislation, is undoubtedly one of the key reasons why the use of FGM is increasing rather than decreasing in the UK: The estimate now stands at 65,000 girls at risk in a year ("An unpunished crime" Julie Bindel). While there is considerable work to be done on raising awareness in both communities and among professionals, of how damaging FGM is to a girls’ short and long term physical and mental health, there are also important issues of human rights and how our society protects children. Parents and communities are an important part of caring for, protecting and making decisions for their children but the state also has responsibilities to protect children (even from parents) and it has a duty to uphold their human rights. The failure to provide adequate protection for one sector of society is very troubling and needs a proactive approach now.
In cases where people are concerned that a child may be being beaten or sexually abused the Safeguarding protocol provides for actions which can result in a sensitive, physical examination to establish the facts. The UK law allows for examinations in the case of FGM too but they are not taking place. Surely our responsibility as citizens is to press our government to ensure that all children in the UK are protected from violent abuse? I am calling for the government to take action now.