Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a painful, non-medical procedure undertaken on girls and women which can seriously harm their long-term health. FGM can take place at any age from infancy upwards, often when new-born, during childhood or adolescence, just before marriage, or during pregnancy. It is also known as “female circumcision” or “cutting”, and by other terms such as Sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. There are no health benefits, but there are risks of serious harm both in the short and long term.

FGM is a form of child abuse that is illegal in the UK. Girls or women may be taken to another country to be mutilated, others are mutilated in the UK. The procedure is traditionally carried out by a woman with no medical training. Anaesthetics and antiseptic treatments are not generally used, and girls/young women may sustain additional injuries through being forcibly restrained.

FGM is part of a group of abusive practices known collectively as harmful practices.

Many communities who practice FGM mistakenly believe that it is a necessary custom to ensure that a female is accepted within the community and is eligible for marriage. Families who practice FGM on a girl or woman usually see it as a way of safeguarding their future. There are other reasons why people believe FGM is appropriate, including perceived health benefits, cleanliness, a rite of passage into womanhood and perceived religious justifications. However, there is no religious, cultural or health justification for FGM.

FGM can cause severe pain, bleeding, wound infections, inability to urinate, injury to vulval tissues, damage to other organs and sometimes death. Other complications can arise later with the onset of puberty or when a woman becomes pregnant.

FGM is a human rights issue that affects girls and women worldwide.

The true extent of this form of harm is unknown due to the ‘hidden’ nature of the practice and the lack of globally consistent recognition and identification of FGM.

UNICEF report that over 230 million girls and women have been cut and that the practice in Africa accounts for the largest share of this total, with over 144 million. Asia follows with over 80 million, and a further 6 million are in the Middle East. It is understood that another 1-2 million girls and women are affected in small practising communities in the rest of the world.

The NHS reports quarterly data collected by healthcare providers in England where FGM was identified or where a procedure for addressing FGM was undertaken by the healthcare provider. In the report for October to December 2025, there were 2,130 individual attendances where FGM was identified.

Many child safeguarding practice reviews identify a lack of knowledge about a particular culture or faith as an issue leading to abuse often not being identified, challenged and or stopped. It has been identified that things like structural racism, unconscious bias and a lack of cultural competence among professionals can leave children and families from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic and cultural backgrounds at risk of 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. While different faiths/beliefs/communities/families have different practices, the definitions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect still hold true.

There is always a duty to keep the child safe, but when dealing with any allegation of child abuse linked to faith, belief, tradition 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.

Signs that FGM might be about to happen to girls/young women whose families originate from an FGM-practising community (especially where their parents or older members of the family feel that FGM is part of their cultural/religious identity) include:

• travelling to certain countries (especially during the longer school holidays, such as in summer) in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, e.g., for a special occasion/ceremony;

• talking about (or someone else talks about) someone coming to see them for a special ceremony (e.g., to ‘become a woman’);

• parents saying they (or a relative) are taking the girl out of the country for a prolonged period and are evasive about why;

• requesting help from a teacher or another adult because they are aware or suspect that they are at immediate risk of FGM.

When working with parents and carers, practitioners should prioritise a child-centred approach, fostering partnerships to ensure understanding, support and safety.

Remember:

Collaborative efforts are crucial, especially in cases of suspected harm.

Practitioners must engage effectively with diverse families, demonstrating empathy, respect and cultural awareness.

Communication should be clear, inclusive and accessible. Encouraging parental/carer involvement in decision-making and valuing their input is essential.

Involving families and communities in designing processes fosters a holistic approach to safeguarding children.

Continuous reflection and adaptation based on feedback from parents and carers enhance practice effectiveness.

Have you considered if:

• your setting is consciously working in an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory way and viewing safeguarding data and practices through an equality lens?

• the setting has ensured that student and family groups with protected characteristics are identified and supported?

• the setting’s safeguarding policy and any strategies related to safeguarding are easy to understand and accessible to all parents and carers, with consideration given to things like literacy, language and disability?

• the setting has ensured that all parents and carers know where to access up to date and evidence-based information about child development, definitions of child abuse and the laws which prevent harmful practices in the UK?