Female Genital Mutilation
Mrs Cooper, Designated Safeguarding Lead - ccooper@chessington.kingston.sch.uk
Female genital mutilation is illegal.
In England and Wales (and Northern Ireland), criminal and civil legislation on FGM is contained
in the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. If FGM is committed against a girl under the age of 16, each person who is responsible for the girl at the time the FGM occurred could be guilty of the offence of failing to protect her from the risk of FGM. It is also an offence for a UK national or UK
resident (even in countries where FGM is not illegal) to:
- perform FGM abroad
- assist a girl to perform FGM on herself outside the UK
- assist (from outside the UK) a non-UK person to carry out FGM outside the UK on a UK national or UK resident.
An offence of failing to protect a girl from risk of FGM can be committed wholly or partly outside the UK by a person who is a UK national or UK resident.
Please read the leaflet below on FGM: The Facts.
Please read the Statement Opposing Female Genital Mutilation below.
For children and young people: FORWARD Youth works (Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development) is an African-led women's rights organisation that can offer guidance on emergency support and advice for those affected by FGM. They have helpful advice as well as support for children and young people on their website, here.
NSPCC can help. If you're worried a child is at risk of or has already had FGM, call our free, anonymous dedicated FGM helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email fgm.help@nspcc.org.uk.