Harmful Practices

Harmful practices are persistent practices and behaviours that are grounded on discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, age and other grounds as well as multiple and/or intersecting forms of discrimination that often involve violence and cause physical and/or psychological harm or suffering.

National Female Genital Mutilation Centre

UNICEF identifies that both boys and girls are at risk of harmful practices, although girls are often at greater risk. It also notes that communities where harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation take place, often reflect values that hold girls in low esteem. 

In many cases, the vulnerable groups are the same as the groups vulnerable to other forms of abuse, e.g., those with additional needs, and children where there are other issues in the family home. However, harmful practices may also take place in households where no other issues are present other than the particular beliefs of the family and, possibly, the associated wider community.

Many serious case reviews identify a lack of knowledge about a particular culture or faith as an issue leading to abuse not being identified and/or challenged. One person cannot know everything about every different culture or faith, but we can be culturally competent in our approach. This means being aware of our practice so that although we try not to alienate the family, we are not being distracted by faith or culture, or losing sight of potential harm.

The over-riding question should always be: “What does this mean for this child – is it harming them/likely to harm them in any way?” If the answer is ‘Yes’ or ‘I think so’, we must take appropriate action.

Indicators of ‘harmful practices', as with other forms of abuse, share some commonalities such as:

• behaviour/mental health changes, for example becoming isolated, confused, withdrawn;
• changes in schoolwork, attendance, or children suddenly go abroad for a long holiday;
• injuries, pain, discomfort.

However, some of the practices have more specific indicators. Click on the links to find out more about: 

• forced marriage; 
• female genital mutilation; 
• child abuse linked to faith or belief; and 
• so-called ‘honour’-based abuse.

As with all safeguarding matters, you must do something. You cannot pass it off as being “part of their culture” or worry about disrespecting the family’s beliefs. While different faiths/beliefs/communities/families have different practices, the definitions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect still hold true.

It may be that you do not feel you have enough knowledge or experience of a particular family’s culture or practice, however, all you need to ask yourself is: is this harming or likely to harm the child? 

There is always a duty to keep the child safe, but when dealing with any allegation of child abuse linked to faith, belief, and/or cultural practices, agencies must also engage with individuals, families and, in some cases, the wider communities to challenge the belief that underlies the harm. You may have a role in this, but your primary focus should remain the child’s safety.

If you have concerns, you must act immediately and speak with your designated safeguarding lead.

Note: In the case of FGM (in England and Wales), if a girl discloses that she has had FGM carried out on her to, or what could be FGM has been seen by, a teacher or regulated health or social care professional (e.g., during nappy-changing/other forms of intimate care or medical care), the said person has a mandatory duty to also report directly to the police on 101.

Ensure children/young people know the risks – talk about these issues at an age-appropriate level in the same way we do about consent, harm and other issues.

Check children and young people have safe relationships – in their families, with their peers, and with staff. Create an environment where it’s okay to talk even about the most difficult things.

Know the signs and know what to do – use the checklists above, your safeguarding procedures and be confident in raising these issues as a possibility.

Take action – and keep taking action until you know children and young people are safe.