1. FGM & Specific Violence Against Young Women and Girls
London Policy and Practice Networking Meeting
Partnership for Young London
Friday 4th March 2016

2. About Us
Mary Otuko – UK Programme Manager Seyi Afolabi – Youth Programme Office

3. We work with women in the UK and in Africa
Who are we?
FORWARD is an African Diaspora led charity working to safeguard and advance the health and rights of African girls and women.
We work with women in the UK and in Africa
Our main practice areas are female genital mutilation (FGM) and child and forced marriage.
Our vision is that women and girls live in dignity, are healthy and have choices and equal opportunities.
We work with communities, schools, professionals, governments, policy makers, NGO’s, young people and men.

4. Why is FGM a form of GVB?
‘female genital mutilation’, ‘female genital cutting’, ‘female circumcision’ and ‘female genital mutilation/cutting’ refer to all procedures involving the removal of the external female genitalia for cultural reasons.
FGM causes physical, sexual and emotional harm

6. How is FGM carried out? Normally done between 3 - 12 years
Varies from community to community but generally by an elder woman in the community using non-sterile equipment without anaesthetic
UK girls are taken on “holiday” to have FGM done
Communities in the UK are believed to have their own practitioners here
Increased use of health professionals to avoid the health complications 6

7. Where part or all of the clitoris or the hood of it is removed
Types of FGM
Type 1:
Where part or all of the clitoris or the hood of it is removed
Also known as ‘Sunna’

8. Where the clitoris and inner lips (labia minor) are removed
Types of FGM
Type 2:
Where the clitoris and inner lips (labia minor) are removed

9. Type 3:
Where the clitoris, inner and outer lips (labia minor/major) are cut away and the remaining skin is sewn or sealed together to varying degrees

10. Types of FGM
Type 4:
All other harmful procedures including pricking, piercing, incision, stretching, scraping or use of herbs and other substances for tightening

11. Health Complications

12. Short term health risks
Long term health risks
Short term health risks
Difficulties with passing urine
Uterine, vaginal & pelvic infections
Difficulties in menstruation
Cysts
Scar tissue
Increased risk of fistula
Complications in pregnancy and child birth
Sexual dysfunction
Psychological problems
Chronic pain
Severe pain & shock
Bleeding
Infection
Urine retention
Tissue damage
Haemorrhaging
Death

13. The global context of FGM - Trends and Prevalence

14. FGM: An Overview on Global Data
UNICEF estimates that at least 125 million girls and women have experienced FGM in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East
30 million girls are at risk in the next decade.
It is reported amongst Bohra Muslims in India, Pakistan and East Africa; in Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Yemen and throughout certain Kurdish communities
There is no data for Columbia, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia or Malaysia
500,000 women and girls living in Europe have undergone FGM and 180,000 girls at risk of FGM
FGM is practiced at all educational levels, in all social classes and occurs among a variety of different religious groups
Source: UNICEF, 2013; EIGE, 2013

16. Reasons given for practicing FGM
culture and tradition
religious obligation
purity and chastity
family honour
aesthetics and hygiene
gender identity

17. The situation in the UK
Recent research indicates that about over 137,000 women living in England & Wales have undergone FGM
Research in 2007 indicated 24,000 girls under 15 years old in the UK have undergone or are at risk of undergoing FGM
However newer research from 2014 suggested up to 60,000 girls were now at risk
Since 2008, 1.5% of all women who gave birth in England and Wales had undergone FGM
Since 2006 over 2100 women and girls sought hospital treatment for FGM, 708 needed admission and/or surgery – Evening Standard 2012

18. Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
The FGM Act replaces the Female Circumcision Act of 1985
Makes it a criminal offence to:
Excise, infibulate or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of a girl or woman’s labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.
Aid, abet, counsel or procure a girl to mutilate her own genitalia; or
Aid, abet, counsel or procure a non-UK person to mutilate a UK national’s or permanent resident’s genitalia outside of the UK.
Definition of a girl includes woman
Punishable by up to 14 year in prison

19. FORWARD’s Youth Programme
Sustained engagement with young women and girls;
Education & Training
Awareness Raising
Advisory Board
Advocacy
Events
Creative arts
Support
Young men/boys

20. Youth Programme: Advocates
ANGELA MURULI
@EmmanuelSpeaks ‘Elephant In The Room’

21. BUSHRA OX

22. ZAYNAB BAROK

23. Peer Mentoring Programme
Youth Peer Mentors
Peer Mentoring Programme
Nov – Dec 2015
Lydia, Esha, Sahiba, Nikki & Vikky
Delivered by Peggy Mulongo of NESTAC

24. Support

25. FGM Specialist Clinics in the UK
22 specialist FGM clinics in the UK – 15 in London, 2 youth focused
Majority are hospital based, midwifery led and few General Practice (GP) based
Medical services and support
Emotional support and
counselling

27. For further information or advice:
FORWARD General information: For advice or referrals: Tel: Web: