This web app is for young people, both girls and boys living in the UK who want to find out more about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and how it might affect them and others they may know.
We also think the app will be useful for other groups of people too including:
This webapp informs young people about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) known in some communities as:
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FGM is only a problem in Africa.
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Communities in Africa have practised FGM for hundreds of years. It is a cultural practice and is passed on from generation to generation. It is also practised in some parts of the Middle East and SE Asia, such as Indonesia. FGM is now a problem in the UK because so many people have come from countries where FGM is widely practised.
FGM is not really a big issue in the UK.
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False
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FGM is a big problem in the UK. A report published by the Government in 2014 estimated that 170,000 survivors of FGM are living in the UK. It is thought that another 65,000 girls aged under 14 living in the UK are at risk of FGM.
FGM is necessary because Islam says so.
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False
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False
One of the principles of Islam is that believers should not harm themselves or others. The Muslim Council of Britain, the country's largest Muslim organisation, has condemned the practice of female genital mutilation as "un-Islamic".
I know FGM is painful at first but there are no long term health effects.
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FGM is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations (UN) as a brutal and cruel practice which has no benefits at all and in fact can lead to short and long-term health problems. In some cases it can lead to death.
If mothers and grandmothers have been cut then daughters/grand-daughters must be cut too.
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False
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Daughters of mothers and grandmothers who have undergone FGM are usually expected to do the same. However, this is not the case in the UK where FGM is illegal and considered to be child abuse.
FGM is a disease.
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FGM is not a disease - it is a cultural tradition.
There is no-one girls can talk to about FGM without their families knowing.
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False
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Help is available for girls and women in the UK who feel they or somebody they know is at risk of FGM or who have been subjected to FGM. Anybody can ring or email the NSPCC FGM help line ☎ 0800 028 3550 or @ fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk. Girls can also speak to teachers at school as they are now much more aware of the issue of FGM.
FGM is a form of child abuse/violence against women
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The law sees FGM as child abuse if performed on a girl under 18. If the girl is over 18 it is seen as violence against women.
FGM is against the law in the UK.
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FGM is illegal in the UK. Any person found guilty of being involved in FGM faces going to prison for up to 14 years.
Girls are frequently sent to other countries to have FGM.
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Many girls from FGM practising communities living in the UK are sent abroad to be cut usually in the school summer holidays (July/August). Girls will not know what is going to happen to them, they will simply think they are going on holiday to visit relatives. The majority of parents will know that FGM is illegal in the UK which is why they will choose to send their daughters abroad. However sending a girl abroad for FGM is also illegal under UK law.
FGM is usually carried out by an older woman, sometimes known as a "cutter". In nearly all cases girls are not given any pain relief. Girls are usually held down so that they cannot move while their private parts are being cut.
FGM has NO health benefits and causes lots of problems.
These include problems from actually being cut and problems which happen afterwards. Some of these problems are:
FGM can also cause psychological or mental health problems for girls, which may stay with them for life. These can include:
These problems can sometimes lead to difficulties at school and college and future relationships with sexual partners. They can also cause girls to feel betrayed by their families.
FGM has been practiced by many ethnic groups across the world for hundreds of years. It is a cultural practice and is passed on from generation to generation. In these communities families tend to accept what their elders e.g. grandmothers and grandfathers tell them to do as they are seen as "wise" people.
Cultural tradition often means that FGM is seen as an important part of raising a daughter. One of the reasons for this is that families believe that a girl, who is cut, is pure and clean and will find a good husband who will look after her in the future.
Parents of girls who are not cut say they may find it hard to find a husband for their daughters and will find themselves and their family cut off and ignored by the community. Many mothers and fathers believe FGM is normal and that they are doing the "right" thing by allowing their daughters to be cut.
It is very difficult for anyone to speak out against the cultural traditions of their community.
Across the world it is estimated that 125 million girls and women are survivors of FGM. Most of these live in just 29 African and Middle Eastern countries.
However FGM can be found in other regions, including SE Asia, and of course in Europe including the UK.
[www] Watch Hazel Barrett on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mvdkI3DxOo
In some communities, a girl who is not cut is seen as unclean. FGM is seen as a way of making sure that girls are pure and remain virgins until they marry.
Mothers know that FGM is extremely painful and dangerous, because they have experienced it themselves. However, they believe that it makes their daughters tougher and prepares them for future challenges such as childbirth.
FGM is an issue in the UK because so many people have settled here from countries where FGM is commonly practiced. It is estimated that 170,000 girls and women living in England and Wales are survivors of FGM. Many of these had FGM before coming to this country. Approximately 65,000 girls under the age of 13 who have been born in England and Wales are at risk of FGM.
There are more cases of FGM in large cities and towns, for example, London, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Northampton, Birmingham, Reading, and Coventry as they are home to high numbers of people from countries where FGM is practised.
In the UK FGM has been a criminal offence since 1985 (Female Circumcision Act). In 2003 the law was updated and renamed the Female Genital Mutilation Act. This means that anyone found to be involved in FGM including sending girls abroad for FGM can be prosecuted and sent to prison for up to 14 years.
Under UK law FGM is regarded as a human rights issue. When it involves a girl under 18 years it is regarded as child abuse and when it involves a women over the age of 18 it is treated as violence against women.
The UK government has promised to end FGM in a generation - that's approximately 20 - 25 years. It has introduced a number of different measures to try to achieve this aim. These include:
[www] Watch Seema Molhotra on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4LU-2ICc_8
There is a drive to end FGM in the UK and worldwide. Charities, community groups, and the media are all getting involved.
Two newspapers, the London Evening Standard and the Guardian are doing a lot of work to raise awareness and to put pressure on the Government to do more to stamp out FGM. The Guardian started the worldwide "End FGM" campaign.
The NSPCC have launched a free telephone help line for anyone in the UK worried about FGM happening to them or anyone they know.
At the same time there are individual young women speaking out against FGM. These are women who have undergone FGM – they are called FGM survivors.
All of these actions are leading to many more people knowing about FGM and joining the national and worldwide campaign to end FGM.
“Unstitch” is a short film made by two young women Anam Ali and Deeqa Ahmed. Although they live in Birmingham, they are of Somali heritage. They made this film because they want to raise awareness of FGM, and encourage people to speak up if they think someone they know is at risk of FGM. They are part of Fixers UK which is about young people using their past to fix the future.
[www] Watch Unstitch on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D-ge_D8LhA
“Think Again” is a film made by ‘The Young People Speak Out’ project led by FORWARD, a charity based in London which campaigns against FGM. The film is about a 12-year-old girl whose mother has told her she has to be cut and her conversations with friends at school.
[www] Watch Think Again on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzBNTtR7toE
“The Silent Scream” is a short film made by the charity Integrate Bristol. This film is about Yasmin, a young woman living in Bristol, who is trying to persuade her mother not to put her sister through FGM.
[www] Watch The Silent Scream on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTNfx8Px9Zo
“It Stops with Me” is a short film made by Coventry City Council with local people, all wanting to end FGM.
[www] Watch It Stops with Me on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16OmOp26bk
More and more survivors of FGM are standing up and speaking out against the practice. Speaking out takes a lot of courage. These women are able to talk about their experience of FGM and how it has affected their lives. They are doing this to warn other girls and young women who might be at risk.
“Ifrah Ahmed” Ifrah was born in Somalia but now lives in Ireland. In this video clip she talks about FGM.
[www] Watch Ifrah Ahmed on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4sg2Lxz2hk
“Leyla Hussein” Leyla was born in Somalia but now lives in England. She is psychotherapist and co-founder of Daughters of Eve an organisation set up to support to support girls at risk of FGM and FGM survivors. In this video clip she talks about FGM.
[www] Watch Leyla Hussein on Youtube Clip Two | www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYHPOrOnung&start=278&end=319
“Hoda Ali” This is a video of Hoda talking about her FGM experience at a conference in Coventry in November 2014.
[www] Watch Hoda Ali on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t7-4Quxhs4
“NSPCC: Ending Female Genital Mutilation” In this film made by the NSPCC you can hear FGM survivors talking about their experiences.
[www] Watch Ending Female Genital Mutilation on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=04qAO5ZzZdY
Many boys and men in England do not really understand what FGM is and how it affects girls and women. Once they are made aware, many are shocked and start to speak out against FGM and are joining campaigns to end it.
“Fadel Takrouri” talking at the Ending Female Genital Multilation in Coventry.
[www] Watch Fadel Takrouri on Youtube Clip One | www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CWoApve8Aw
[www] Watch Fadel Takrouri on Youtube Clip Two | www.youtube.com/watch?v=llnJQHhL5P0
“Now that you know, say NO to FGM” is a short film made by a group of young men. The aim of the film is to tell young men about FGM and what men can do to stop it happening.
[www] Watch Now that you know, say NO to FGM on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWbwqyHyHU8
“Charlie” a student from Sierra Leone talks about FGM.
[www] Listen to Charlie on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiELrtDq-ic
FGM is carried out in communities of different faiths, including Christians and Muslims. Some parents think they have to do FGM to their daughters for "religious" reasons.
However, no religion supports or promotes FGM. Many religious leaders from all faiths are beginning to speak out against FGM.
At the Girl Summit in 2014, over 240 religious leaders signed the FGM Religious Leaders Declaration. This says:
Religious leaders from the following religious groups signed this declaration:
The Muslim Council of Britain, the country's largest Muslim organisation, has condemned the practice of FGM as "un-Islamic".
“FGM is not an Islamic requirement. There is no reference to it in the holy Qur'an that states girls must be circumcised. Nor is there any authentic reference to this in the Sunnah, the sayings or traditions of our prophet. FGM is bringing the religion of Islam into disrepute.”
Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), said:
“We at the MCB are pleased to address this very important issue of female genital mutilation. Working closely together we can end this practice and ensure it is no longer linked to the religion of Islam or the teachings of the prophet Muhammad.”
They also say that 'one of the "basic principles" of Islam is that believers should not harm themselves or others.'
“Fadel Takrouri” talking at the Ending Female Genital Multilation in Coventry.
[www] Watch Fadel Takrouri on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rlyI4qUek8
Fahma Mohamed, who spearheaded a campaign for the perils of FGM to be highlighted for girls in British schools, with her petition outside the Department for Education in London. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi for the Guardian Christian Sinibaldi/Guardian. Courtesy of Guardian News and Media Ltd.
“End FGM campaign” In 2014 The Guardian newspaper launched an End FGM campaign. This campaign resulted in nearly 250,000 signatures being collected in just over 20 days and Michael Gove (then Education Secretary), writing to all schools telling them to take action against FGM.
[www] Watch End FGM campaign on The Guardian website | www.theguardian.com/society/video/2014/feb/26/guardian-fgm-petition-campaign-video
Fahma Mohamed at the Women of the Year Lunch with Stephen Lawrence’s mother, Doreen. Photograph: David M Benett/Getty Images. Courtesy of Guardian News and Media Ltd.
“Fahma Mohamed” Fahma Mohamed was the face of the Guardian's 'End FGM' campaign and was awarded Good Housekeeping's outstanding young campaigner of the year award in October 2014.
[www] Fahma Mohamed - The Guardian | www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/13/fahma-mohamed-anti-fgm-wins-good-housekeeping-award
“Because I am a Girl Campaign” organised by Plan UK is the biggest global campaign for girls' rights. Plan UK are a charity which work with vulnerable children across the world. They are campaigning to end FGM, child marriage and violence/abuse.
[www] Because I am a Girl Campaign - Plan UK | www.plan-uk.org/because-i-am-a-girl/fgm-rose/#sthash.ErT8Dwks.dpuf
“How Coventry is tackling the issue of FGM” This is a 12 minute film made by Coventry City Council which features people from Coventry & Warwickshire University Hospital, Coventry City Council, the British Arab Federation and Celestinecelest Community Organisation talking about FGM and how they are working together to stamp it out.
[www] Watch How Coventry is tackling the issue of FGM on YouTube | www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_g8woS4Zc
Lots of people and organisations are taking action to end FGM - you can too! Here are some suggestions.
Fatou and her sister Amie are really excited because in a couple of days they are going to West Africa to visit their grandmother and other relatives. Their parents have bought them lots of new clothes and they have had their hair braided. Their relatives are also going to be organising a big party for them. They are looking forward to spending four weeks of their school summer holiday abroad.
However, the night before they are due to leave, Fatou overhears her mother talking to her grandmother on the telephone. She hears her mother saying the word "sunna" a number of times. That night Fatou cannot sleep, because she knows that sunna is FGM. The next morning the family go to the airport, but by this time Fatou realises that she and her sister are going to West Africa for FGM.
Fatou is right to be worried for herself and her sister and should speak to an official person at the airport. This could be the person who checks her ticket and baggage or the passport officer when she shows her passport. It could even be the steward or stewardess on the plane. It is then the duty of the people they have told to make sure that Fatou and her sister are kept safe. The people who work at the airport will know about the dangers of FGM.
The UK Government has developed a FGM community wallet card which can be printed out and kept in a purse or wallet.
Marianna is looking forward to going to school tomorrow. It is the first day at secondary school. She is also looking forward to seeing her best friend, Nimco, who she has not seen all summer as Nimco spent the summer in Africa visiting her relatives.
When Marianna sees Nimco she runs up to greet her but is shocked to find that Nimco is "down" and unhappy and will not answer any of her questions about her trip to Africa. During the day Nimco has to keep going to the toilet and Marianna notices that she is not walking normally. Marianna begins to think something bad has happened to her friend over the summer holidays.
Marianna is clearly a good friend to Nimco and unlike their new teachers knows what Nimco was like before she visited Africa. She is right to be worried about her friend and should tell a teacher, personal tutor or the school nurse. They will then find out what has happened and make sure Nimco gets the support and help she needs.
Hussain is the eldest brother of three sisters. Now that he is 16 he has more freedom and is treated like an adult. One evening when his sisters are in bed his parents start to discuss the fact that it is time for his sisters to become women. He is surprised to hear that his parents are to buy them presents and to have a big party when all their relatives, friends and neighbours will be invited. He wonders why he was not given a big party when he became a man. Then his parents start discussing who should make them a woman, a local cutter or one flown in from home. Hussain suddenly realises that his parents are planning to have his sisters cut.
Hussain needs to ring the national NSPCC FGM Helpline or ChildLine to get help and advice. He can also ring the school his sisters attend and speak to their personal tutors or teachers. These organisations will then take action to protect his sisters.
NSPCC FGM helpline
☎ 0800 028 3550
ChildLine
☎ 0800 1111
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid, Birmingham
☎ 0808 800 0028 (Free phone)
Dahlia Project, London
A group therapy and individual counselling service for women over 18 who are affected by FGM
☎ 0207 272 0995
@ admin@mayacentre.org.uk
BSCA FGM Project, Bolton
☎ 01204 399239
Daughters of Eve, London
☎ 0798 303 0488
BAWSO, (Black Association of Women Step Out) Wales
☎ 0800 731 8147 (free 24 hour helpline)
[www] www.bawso.org.uk
AMINA - the Muslim Women's Support Centre, Scotland
☎ 0808 801 0301
[www] www.mwrc.org.uk
Women's Aid Northern Ireland
☎ 0808 802 1414 (free 24 hour helpline)
☎ Text support to 07797 805 839
@ 24hrsupport@dvhelpline.org
Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC)
☎ 02476 277777
@ info@crasac.org.uk
[www] www.crasac.org.uk
Women's Support Project
Adelphi Centre, 12 Commercial Road, Glasgow, G5 0PQ
☎ 0141 418 0748
@ enquiries@womenssupportproject.org.uk
Saheliya
125 McDonald Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4NW
☎ 0131 556 9302
@ info@saheliya.co.uk
Children's Services Departments
Each local authority has a Children’s Services Department whose role is to ensure that children living in their area are kept safe and do not come to any harm.
If you wish to contact them it may be easier to do so through your school or college as they will have the contact names and contact details.
Other people to talk to are:
There are over 14 specialist clinics across the UK which are supporting women who have undergone FGM. Please click on the following link for the full list:
[www] NHS Specialist Services for Female Genital Mutilation | www.bava.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/List-of-FGM-Clinics-Mar-14-FINAL.pdf
Please speak to someone about your concerns because help is available.
Talk to someone you trust. This could be a personal tutor, teacher at school, your school nurse or local doctor. Or you can ring the NSPCC helpline.
☎ 0800 028 3550
@ fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Girls and women who have undergone FGM.
No you will not get into any trouble. You are trying to prevent another girl or yourself being hurt. Once you have told a personal tutor, teacher, school nurse, doctor or contacted the NSPCC you have done all that you can do. They will know what to do next so you do not need to worry.
The organisations and individuals listed in the support section will offer advice and guidance that is personal to you. It is their responsibility to support and protect girls at risk.
If you had FGM in another country BEFORE you came to live in the UK, there is nothing anyone could do. However, there is still plenty of help and support available to you. You can visit your local doctor or nurse, talk to someone at school or contact organisations yourself ( a list is in the support section). You can also ring the NSPCC FGM helpline for advice.
If you had FGM AFTER you began living in the UK your parents could be prosecuted. This is because they have broken the law. FGM is illegal in the UK and it is also illegal to send someone living in the UK to another country to be cut.
However, the people who would make the decisions about whether or not to prosecute your parents would always be sensitive and mindful on the impact it has on you.
If you have younger sisters, people in authority who make the decisions will need to feel certain they are not at risk of FGM.
If you believe you are at risk and you tell someone in authority (personal tutor, teacher, doctor, nurse) or you have rung the NSPCC FGM helpline, your parents will be contacted by the police and/or social services. Your parents will be told about the law in the UK - i.e. FGM is illegal here and FGM is child abuse and anyone breaking the law will be prosecuted.
Some young people will not want their parents to get into trouble because they love them and this is understandable. However, the only way to stop FGM in this country is for all young girls at risk to realise that they have rights over their own bodies and the right to be safe at all times - your parents must respect your rights.
Any interaction with your parents by the police or children’s services will focus on ensuring you remain safe.
An organised course of action agreed within a group to achieve a goal.
This is when an adult harms or hurts a child. It can also be an older child harming a younger child.
A group of people who have the same interests.
The ability to take action and do something even if you feel frightened or unsure.
Something people do because their families and communities have always done it.
An announcement of intent to do something.
A group of people who share a distinctive common culture, religion, language, etc...
A term used in some communities, for example Guineau Bissau for female genital mutilation (FGM).
A term used in some communities for female genital mutilation (FGM).
A girl's or woman’s private parts.
A term used in some communities for female genital mutilation (FGM).
A girl or woman who has undergone FGM.
Serious abuse of a human right.
A term used in some communities, for example in the Horn of Africa, for female genital mutilation (FGM).
A way of doing something, a course of action or a medical operation.
Something which affects the mind and the way we think and feel.
A term used in some communities, especially Muslim communities, for female genital mutilation (FGM).
An established belief or custom generally inherited from generation to generation.
A long lasting shock, physical and/or mental, caused by a horrible experience or injury.
Urine infections make having a wee painful. Some girls will need antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
Physical actions which can cause serious damage, harm or death.
Someone who has never had sexual intercourse.
Easily harmed or hurt.
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![[www] View a larger map at the Womans Stats Project | womanstats.org/substatics/Prevalence%20of%20Female%20Genital%20Cutting_2011tif_wmlogo3.png](http://womanstats.org/substatics/Prevalence%20of%20Female%20Genital%20Cutting_2011tif_wmlogo3.png){kind=link}