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Original poster

FGM in the UK, illegal since 1985 but no prosecutions, how can we change this?

370 replies

OvaryAction · 14/11/2013 20:20

I have just read this article stating that two people have been arrested for performing Female Genital Mutilation on a baby less than two months old.

The UK's efforts to end FGM are being seriously held back by a lack of national strategy or action plan. There are plenty of guidelines out there for teachers, midwives, social workers, police and so on, but they are not obligatory reading and many people in positions where they could identify victims and girls and women at risk are simply not aware of the problem or the role they could play in fixing it. this documentary explains this problem very well and the woman presenting it has created a petition asking the home office to act now and create an effective national action plan.

Please, please sign it and share it. FGM breaches numerous human rights including the right to no torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and causes lifelong physical and psychological trauma to it's survivors. In some cases FGM is fatal.

OP posts:
LucyLui25 · 18/11/2013 12:06

signed

EldritchCleavage · 18/11/2013 12:07

Baggy, I'm sorry if I sounded ratty, I certainly didn't mean to. As it happens I agree with you about male circumcision. But it is a very different issue that will need very different handling. For starters, it isn't already illegal as FGM is.

2OfUsHerAndHim · 18/11/2013 13:13

Signed

SusanaD · 18/11/2013 13:38

signed

katemcd0704 · 18/11/2013 14:12

Signed.

mousmous · 18/11/2013 19:43

just bumping as it's not 'discussion of the day' anymore.

Original poster
OvaryAction · 18/11/2013 19:53

Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who has signed so far,we're almost at 84,000. We need 100,000 for this to be debated in parliament.

OP posts:
CiderwithBuda · 18/11/2013 21:34

Bumping

JackNoneReacher · 19/11/2013 09:51

bumping... really need a few more people to sign and share.

elfycat · 19/11/2013 13:13

I like the way that out of the top 15 most signatory petitions this is the only one without a response. It's the second most signed petition but no-one had dared to make a comment.

Please sign! It seems the only way to get this talked about is to hit the 100k.

Even the puppy/kitten buying petition got a comment after 10k signings I did sign that one too

another bump

Original poster
OvaryAction · 19/11/2013 17:59

Thanks for the bump elfy

Oh look at that, my post thanking you for your bump has in turn bumped the thread. What a fortunate and totally unforeseen bonus.....

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb · 19/11/2013 18:26

Signed and shared

Catmint · 19/11/2013 18:32

Signed

CerealKillerMom · 19/11/2013 18:42

Signed.

Re. the quote from Birmingham CC. I genuinely don't understand. If you are presented with a child who has had FGM performed, then how can you not follow through with the application of the current law. What's the rational - not in the child's best interest to investigate/prosecute/jail the parent/s?

DramaAlpaca · 20/11/2013 11:35

Bumping for more signatures

elfycat · 21/11/2013 17:28

OvaryAction There was no need to thank me. You are most welcome and thank you for starting this thread. I worked in an operating theatre where we surgically enabled a young woman to have sex with her husband, as she couldn't thanks to the scarring caused by this.

Oh look another bump Wink

I think prosecutions have to happen, or the communities that encourage FGM will keep going, as the law is toothless. It might not be in the individual child's best interest to be separated from her parents, but it would be in the interests of her younger sisters, cousins, own children laterand the rest of the community.

JackNoneReacher · 21/11/2013 21:32

cereal I don't understand either.

What would normally happen if we came across a child that had been seriously, deliberately assaulted by her parents?

The parents would be prosecuted as a punishment and deterrent. The child would be removed - for her own protection.

But for some reason FGM is being treated differently. On the one hand is a law against it, on the other hand is an acceptance that it's happening and an attitude of "oh well if its been done, there's no point following that up now".

People on this thread have suggested the reason is because little brown girls aren't 'as important' as little white ones.

I hate to think this is true, I'd prefer to think its some sort of misguided fear of being racist. Either way, something needs to change.

uncomfortablydumb · 21/11/2013 22:27

Little bump. Too important to get lost.

Pixel · 21/11/2013 23:00

It's not because 'little brown girls' aren't important. It's because everyone is frightened of upsetting the 'little brown girls' parents cos they are 'ethnic' and have 'culture' (the magic words in pc land). This is the same mind-set from those in authority that killed Victoria Climbie Sad.

Pixel · 21/11/2013 23:01

I mean the mind-set is from those in authority (social services etc), not that they actually physically killed her, sorry didn't read right when I saw it again. Anyway, you know what I mean.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 21/11/2013 23:45

Just signed it. Really care about this topic but actually have been avoiding the thread all week because of the very emotive and disturbing headline. I don't need to be horrified by the fact its been done to a tiny baby - it's horrifying that its done to any woman.

And given how vital and important this issue is, and that it's been discussion of the day, how awful it is that this thread has taken a week to get to some 250 messages. So what would it take to actually energise the powerful MN community to work on this topic?

mousmous · 22/11/2013 07:51

response from epetitions last night:

"Dear

The e-petition 'Stop FGM in the UK Now' signed by you recently reached 86,113 signatures and a response has been made to it.

As this e-petition has received more than 10 000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response: We regard female Genital Mutilation as child abuse and it is illegal. The Coalition Government is absolutely clear that political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing, uncovering and prosecuting this terrible form of criminal activity. This Government recognises that tackling violence against women and girls, including FGM, requires a sustained, robust and dynamic cross-Government approach. Every department needs to play its part in addressing FGM. The Department of Health is working to improve the information collected by the NHS on FGM. The Home Office has recently announced it will help fund a new study into the prevalence rates of FGM in England and Wales. The Department for International Development has established an ambitious £35m programme to address FGM in Africa and beyond, with an ambition toward ending FGM in one generation. The Home Office is the lead on violence against women and girls (VAWG) and has captured FGM in our comprehensive VAWG Strategy, rather than in a stand-alone Action Plan. Recently updated, the Strategy (The Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Action Plan) has a renewed focus on protecting potential victims. Through the plan we are working closely across Government to help secure a FGM conviction, and with charities and frontline organisations to help improve awareness of FGM. As part of a continued effort to raise awareness, the Home Office has: Joined forces with the NSPCC and the Metropolitan Police Service to establish a dedicated FGM helpline, providing advice to anyone who is concerned about FGM: www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/resourcesforprofessionals/minorityethnic/female-genital-mutilation_wda96841.html Launched the Statement Opposing FGM, which sends out a strong message to anyone involved in this practice - it is illegal and has no place in our society. To date, we have sent out over 37,000 of these leaflets. Continued to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure the Government is doing everything it can to help secure a prosecution. We are greatly encouraged by the Director of Public Prosecution’s assessment that it is only a matter of time before a perpetrator is brought to justice and the Minister for Crime Prevention will be discussing this matter with Alison Saunders shortly. Female Genital Mutilation is a human rights abuse with devastating consequences for victims. We are determined to work together across Government to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and stamp out this abhorrent practice for good. This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100 000 signature threshold.

View the response to the e-petition

Thanks,

HM Government e-petitions epetitions.direct.gov.uk/

myroomisatip · 22/11/2013 08:14

WorkingItOutAsIGo I agree. It is very disappointing that there are not more posts on this thread :(

Sallyingforth · 22/11/2013 11:56

it is only a matter of time before a perpetrator is brought to justice

A perpetrator at some time in the future. How many girls are going to be mutilated in the meantime?

That is just not good enough!

JackNoneReacher · 22/11/2013 20:27

shit... how much time is needed to secure a prosecution? Its been 10 years since the female genital mutilation act.

I feel the same way about the headline workingitoutasigo. Its almost too upsetting to read.