NSPCC & FGM – Female Genital Mutilation

1.NSPCC Share Aware

Click here to access information about the NSPCC Share Aware campaign.

2. Female genital mutilation (FGM)

(sometimes referred to as female circumcision) refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is illegal in the UK.

An estimated 137,000 women in the UK are affected by female genital mutilation (FGM). However, the true extent is unknown, due to the “hidden” nature of the crime.

The girls may be taken to their countries of origin so that FGM can be carried out during the summer holidays, allowing them time to “heal” before they return to school. There are also worries that some girls may have FGM performed in the UK.

In February 2014, the UK government announced plans to part-fund a new study into how many women and girls living in England and Wales are affected by FGM. This was part of a wider commitment to preventing FGM during the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. Read the 2015 Government declaration on female genital mutilation for details on other steps being taken.

A statement opposing FGM

The Statement Opposing FGM makes it clear that FGM is a serious criminal offence in the UK, with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison for anyone found guilty of the offence. You should take this statement with you when you go abroad. You can show it to your family. Keep this statement in your passport, purse or wallet, which you should carry with you all the time.

For more information please visit:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/female-genital-mutilation/Pages/Introduction.aspx Or email the practice in confidence [email protected] your query will be dealt by the Practice Nurse and Admin Safeguarding Lead

Leaflets to Download

The Department of Health has published a leaflet giving information about FGM in the following languages:

More about FGM – English version (PDF, 248 Kb)

Mwy o wybodaeth am FGM – Welsh version (PDF, 175Kb)

ስለ ኤፍ ጂ ኤም ተጨማሪ መረጃ – – Amharic version (PDF, 1.09Mb)

مزيد من المعلومات حول ختان الإناث – Arabic version (PDF, 177Kb)

FGM اطلاعات بیشتر درباره – Farsi version (PDF,221Kb

Renseignements complémentaires sur les MGF – French version (PDF, 182Kb)

FGM زانیاری زیاتر دەربارەی – Kurdish Sorani version (PDF, 246 Kb)

Macluumaad dheeraad ah ee ku saabsan FGM – Somali version (PDF, 196 Kb)

Habari zaidi kuhusu ukeketaji wa wanawake – Swahili version (PDF, 176 Kb)

ብዛዕባ ኤፍ ጂ ኤም ተወሳኺ ሓበሬታ – Tigrinya version (PDF, 766 Kb)

ایف جی ایم کے بارے میں مزید معلومات – Urdu version (PDF, 188 Kb)

Other Organisations that Can Help

  • Metropolitan Police (Project Azure – FGM)
    Helpline: 0207 161 2888