Tags: female genital mutilation

iHV supports the RCM call to action to end Female Genital Mutilation

On 12 September, The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) officially launched a series of animated films on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The short animated films were developed by the RCM in collaboration with The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), The Royal College General Practitioners (RCGP), survivors of FGM, NGOs and a variety local community partners.

The RCM and its partners worked closely with FGM survivors to ensure that the authenticity of the stories being told via the animations remained true to the realities of surviving FGM.

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, executive director iHV, commented:

“FGM is embedded into the psyche of some cultures, but it is a crime against women that serves only to cause unimaginable distress and life-long suffering to its victims, destroying very many lives. The fact that so many English girls also become victims must cease, as must this practice worldwide.

The costs for necessary long-term medical care for its victims makes this much more than an individual issue, it is also a preventable public health priority. We applaud the RCM and their collaborators in making these films and urge health visitors to ensure that they have a wide audience amongst those who need to understand these issues better.

We strongly support the RCM call to action to end FGM internationally by 2030.”

All three short animations are now available to view:

The animated films will also be available soon in another four languages Arabic, French, Somali and Swahili.

The films are aimed at creating awareness around the health and physiological consequences of FGM, but also hope to cut through much of the inaccurate and misleading information circulating in the public sphere about FGM.

Importantly, each of the FGM animations ends with a ‘call to act’ on each UK Government.

The call to action includes the following:

  • To develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a National FGM Action Plan with the goal of ending FGM in the UK by 2030;
  • A commitment by all government agencies to end FGM, support survivors and share information to keep women and girls safe;
  • Provide accessible specialist health and psychological care and support services in community settings for survivors and potential victims of all age groups;
  • Education and training for the children’s workforce in their role and responsibilities for safeguarding girls and young women.

Updated materials – FGM Prevention programme

The Department of Health has updated some materials for the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Prevention programme:

FGM Safeguarding and Risk Assessment – Quick guide for health professionals

This guide has been created to help health professionals identify and assess the risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) for patients in their care and to support the discussion with patients and family members.

The guide will help you to:

  • Start the conversation and confidently discuss FGM with patients and their families.
  • Use the risk assessment tool to assess whether your patient is either at risk, or has had, FGM. Also to identify whether your patient has children or whether there are other children in the family / close friends who are potentially at risk of FGM.
  • Safeguard your patients appropriately, including understanding when to refer to social care and the police.
  • Learn more about FGM, including the different types, the health impacts, a world map of where FGM is practised and the different names and local terms used to describe FGM.
Download FGM Safeguarding and Risk Assessment - Quick guide for health professionals

FGM Risk Assessment Tool

This FGM Risk Assessment Tool comprises 3 sections:

  • Part One (a): PREGNANT WOMEN (OR HAS RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH)

This is to help you make a decision as to whether the unborn child (or other female children in the family) are at risk of FGM or whether the woman herself is at risk of further harm in relation to her FGM.

  • Part One (b): NON-PREGNANT ADULT WOMAN (over 18)

This is to help decide whether any female children are at risk of FGM, whether there are other children in the family for whom a risk assessment may be required or whether the woman herself is at risk of further harm in relation to her FGM.

  • Part 2: CHILD/YOUNG ADULT (under 18 years old)

This is to help when considering whether a child is AT RISK of FGM, or whether there are other children in the family for whom a risk assessment may be required.

  • Part 3: CHILD/YOUNG ADULT (under 18 years old)

This is to help when considering whether a child HAS HAD FGM.

Download FGM Risk Assessment Tool

Service standards for commissioning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) care

This guidance describes service standards expected to be commissioned for the confirmation of FGM in children under the age of 18.

Download Service standards for commissioning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) care

If you have any queries relating to the above documents, please contact [email protected]

 

 

 

iHV supports International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The annual International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is held on 6 February.  FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and is one of the most severe forms of child abuse.

There are currently 60,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years living in the UK who are potentially at risk of FGM.

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, executive director iHV, said:

“International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is an important reminder that this practice still goes on, that it is a global issue and that by working together we can protect children and help stop FGM.  Raising the profile of FGM and encouraging girls and women to seek support is very important.  The iHV has produced Good Practice Points to advise health visitors on their role when working with families where FGM may be an issue, and we have links to other resources useful for health visitors.”

Good Practice Points for health visitors on combating FGM

These Good Practice Points are available to iHV members only.

Links to further resources can be found in our Resource Library

iHV Resource Library: FGM

Read the UN's press release

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

The iHV is a self-funding charity – we can only be successful in our mission to strengthen health visiting practice if the health visiting profession and its supporters join us on our journey. We rely on our membership to develop new resources for our members.

So do join us now!

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New NHS FGM summer campaign launched

The NHS launched its new Female Genital mutilation (FGM) summer campaign on 9 July to coincide with the approach of the school summer holidays.

fgm_©fixers

As we near the start of the summer school holidays when the numbers of girls taken outside of the UK to be cut increases, the NHS is raising awareness of the severe health implications of FGM for those living in UK who are members of communities affected by FGM.  TV advertising is being used to directly reach out to communities with this message.

The film features a roundtable table discussion led by Henry Bonsu, a well-known British African broadcaster, together with a panel of experts all speaking openly and candidly about FGM.  Alongside the film, the NHS has produced some short social media videos which are being distributed via Facebook.

The film will be broadcast on several UK African satellite TV channels from 9 – 31 July.

You can view the video, called ‘FGM: The Facts’ on NHS Choices – www.nhs.uk/fgm

Please share the video and use social media help the campaign reach further.

For any further info or to help support you to be part of this campaign, please contact Caroline Symes [email protected]

Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation

This multi-agency guidance on female genital mutilation (FGM) should be read and followed by all persons and bodies in England and Wales who are under statutory duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. It replaces female genital mutilation: guidelines to protect children and women (2014).

This guidance should be considered together with other relevant safeguarding guidance, including (but not limited to):

It is not intended to replace wider safeguarding guidance, but to provide additional advice on FGM.

This guidance has three key functions:

  • to provide information on FGM, including on the law on FGM in England and Wales;
  • to provide strategic guidance on FGM for chief executives, directors and senior managers of persons and bodies mentioned above, or of third parties exercising public protection functions on behalf of those persons or bodies;
  • to provide advice and support to front-line professionals who have responsibilities to safeguard and support women and girls affected by FGM, in particular to assist them in:
    • identifying when a girl or young woman may be at risk of FGM and responding appropriately;
    • identifying when a girl or woman has had FGM and responding appropriately; and
    • implementing measures that can prevent and ultimately help end the practice of FGM.

This guidance encourages agencies to cooperate and work together to protect and support those at risk of, or who have undergone, FGM.

Download Multi-agency guidance on female genital mutilation (FGM)

 

 

iHV welcomes Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) prevention week of action

Public health minister Jane Ellison has launched an FGM prevention week of action and is urging health and care professionals to help prevent FGM. It was launched at the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM National Conference.

There are currently 60,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years living in the UK who are potentially at risk of FGM.

Dr Cheryll Adams, Executive Director iHV, said: “Raising the profile of FGM and encouraging girls and women to seek support is very important.  The iHV has produced Good Practice Points to advise health visitors on their role when working with families where FGM may be an issue.”

Good Practice Points for health visitors on combating FGM

FGM prevention week is to mark the annual International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on 6 February. It will run from 8 to 12 February 2016 and will focus on a different aspect of FGM prevention work each day:

  • Tuesday 9 February: mandatory reporting
  • Wednesday 10 February: communities and survivors
  • Thursday 11 February: training
  • Friday 12 February: mental health
Resources explaining healthcare professionals' duty to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in girls under 18

Healthcare professionals required to report FGM to police

From 31 October, healthcare professionals must alert the police if they treat a girl under 18 who has had female genital mutilation (FGM).

muslim girl blurred with red flower denoting FGM

Muslim girl blurred with red flower denoting FGM
© IHV

Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information

To coincide with the duty coming into effect, the Department of Health has introduced a range of resources to help ensure that healthcare staff are equipped and confident to deal with cases of FGM.

Developed with the support of the NHS, the Royal Colleges and survivors of FGM, the package of support includes:

  • quick guidance for professionals, including a flow-chart that sets out what action health professionals should take
  • a poster for NHS organisations to publicise the duty to their staff
  • training slides
  • video interviews with health professionals
  • a leaflet for staff to give to patients to explain the new duty

These resources will make sure that healthcare professionals are aware of their responsibilities towards girls who come into their care that have had FGM.

Resources explaining healthcare professionals' duty to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in girls under 18.

FGM – Greenwich University publishes a story about our fact sheets