FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

Guidance for schools

World Health Organisation definition

“All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non – medical reasons.”

School staff can play a key role in protecting girls from FGM. With your help we can identify those at risk and together we can protect them from being harmed.

FGM is child abuse No health benefits, only harm

FGM is recognized by the United FGM has no health benefits, and it Nations as a violation of the harms girls and women in many human rights of girls and women. ways. It involves removing and It is nearly always carried out on damaging healthy and normal minors (between infancy and age female genital tissue, and interferes 15) and is a violation of the rights with the natural functions of girls' of children. It is illegal in the UK and women's bodies. and it is child abuse. FGM is under reported in this country. Immediate complications can Over 24,000 girls under the age include severe pain, shock, of 15 years in England and Wales hemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or are at risk from undergoing FGM sepsis (bacterial infection), urine either in this country or abroad. retention, open sores in the genital The summer holiday’s is the region and injury to nearby genital period when girls are mostly at tissue. risk of FGM. With your help we can identify those at risk and together we can protect girls from undergoing FGM.

FGM is classified into four major types:

1. : partial or total removal of the (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals).

2. Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the ).

3. : narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.

4. Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

Long term consequences can FGM indicators include:  The girl may confide that she is  recurrent bladder and urinary to have a “special procedure “ tract infections; which will make her a woman or  cysts; talk of a ceremony taking place  infertility; for her or other siblings. There  an increased risk of childbirth may be talk of vaccinations or complications and newborn talk of absence from school. deaths; Girls are more at risk of FGM  A need for further surgery. during school summer holidays For example, the FGM procedure that seals or  A girl or her family may talk narrows a vaginal opening about a long holiday to her (type 3 above) needs to be country of origin or to a country cut open later to allow for where the practice is prevalent sexual intercourse and This is not enough on it’s own childbirth. Sometimes it is but might be significant when stitched again several times, added to other concerns. including after childbirth, hence the woman goes  A mother or an older sibling had through repeated opening already undergone FGM and closing procedures, further increasing and repeated both immediate and long-term risks.

Who is at risk of FGM ? Signs that FGM may have occurred The communities in the UK that girls are most at risk of FGM  Prolonged absence from include the Somali, Sudanese, school with a noticeable Sierra Leone, Gambian, Liberian, change in behavior on return Egyptian, Nigerian, Ethiopian and  Finding it difficult to sit still and Eritrean communities. Non-African appears to be experiencing communities that practice FGM discomfort or pain include Yemeni, Afghani, Kurdish,  Spending a long time away Indonesian, Malaysian and from class for toilet breaks Pakistani Bohra Muslim  Asking to be excused from PE communities. or swimming  Suddenly visiting the school nurse more frequently  A sudden change in dress

Prevention & Reporting For additional support ; See contact details below: School staff can play a key role in protecting girls from FGM. Project Azure, Metropolitan Police If you think a girl is at risk of FGM Tel 020 71612888 or that FGM may have taken place you must report it immediately as NSPCC Female Genital you would any other form of child Mutilation (FGM) helpline abuse. 0800 028 3550

1) You must inform your Dr Comfort Momoh (MBE) FGM Designated Teacher for Child Specialist Protection. Phone: 020 7188 6872 Mobile: 07956 542 576 2) A referral must be completed to E-mail: [email protected] children’s social care.

FORWARD 3) In urgent cases, contact Phone: 020 89604000 children’s social care or police E-mail: [email protected] direct using 999 or 101. Daughters of Eve It is essential that the young Mobile: 07983 030 488 person’s parents are not spoken to 07961797173 before a referral is sent to E-mail (via website): children’s social care. www.dofeve.org/

A full risk assessment will be IKWRO conducted and any decision to Phone: 0207 920 6460 contact the young person’s parents E-mail: www.ikwro.org.uk/ will be made jointly by children’s social care and police.

It is essential that all professionals within education are aware of this heinous crime and follow the above safeguarding procedures.