Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Female Genital Multilation (FGM) is a form of child abuse and violence against female children and women, a serious public health concern that goes against human rights.

It is illegal in the UK to subject a femal child or woman to female genital mutilation (FGM), to take a child abroad to undergo FGM or for any person to advise, help or force a female child to inflict FGM on herself.  It is also an offence to fail to protect a female child from the risk of FGM

FGM can be carried out at any age and is performed for a variety of complex reasons with a range of explanations and motives given by individual and families who support the practice.  It is medically unnecessary, is extremely painful, terrifying and has life threatening physical and serious psychological health consequences both at the time the procedure is carried out and later in life.