FGM - Legislation in the UK
Since 1985, in the UK, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been a criminal offence under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. Yes, FGM has been a criminal offence in England and Wales for nearly thirty years! However, under this legislation in 1985, taking girls who were settled in the UK abroad to undergo FGM was not considered a criminal offence.
Therefore, the law was further revised in 2003, introduced to replace the one made in 19855 and close this ‘loophole’, making it illegal to commit FGM here, or for any British citizens to be taken out of the country to be cut overseas, with a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. The result, not a single prosecution to date, let alone a conviction. Many see this as an embarrassing neglect in the history of child protection. A successful prosecution would help us win this fight. There has to be a successful prosecution, this would help the people who are doing …show more content…
*FGM is also illegal in Scotland based on the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (Scotland) 2005
There's been plenty of talk over the years, there's been almost 3 articles a week on average in the UK press over the last ten years discussing FGM in the UK, and since 2003 FGM and the lack of prosecutions has been raised in parliament at least 45 times. Even so, due to lack of action, more girls than ever before in England and Wales are at risk. 65000 under the age of 13 and that number is increasing. It is now so widespread that the NHS has had to set up 15 specialist clinics in England and Wales, dealing with the physical complications of FGM and offering reversal
Since 1985, in the UK, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been a criminal offence under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. Yes, FGM has been a criminal offence in England and Wales for nearly thirty years! However, under this legislation in 1985, taking girls who were settled in the UK abroad to undergo FGM was not considered a criminal offence.
Therefore, the law was further revised in 2003, introduced to replace the one made in 19855 and close this ‘loophole’, making it illegal to commit FGM here, or for any British citizens to be taken out of the country to be cut overseas, with a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. The result, not a single prosecution to date, let alone a conviction. Many see this as an embarrassing neglect in the history of child protection. A successful prosecution would help us win this fight. There has to be a successful prosecution, this would help the people who are doing …show more content…
*FGM is also illegal in Scotland based on the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (Scotland) 2005
There's been plenty of talk over the years, there's been almost 3 articles a week on average in the UK press over the last ten years discussing FGM in the UK, and since 2003 FGM and the lack of prosecutions has been raised in parliament at least 45 times. Even so, due to lack of action, more girls than ever before in England and Wales are at risk. 65000 under the age of 13 and that number is increasing. It is now so widespread that the NHS has had to set up 15 specialist clinics in England and Wales, dealing with the physical complications of FGM and offering reversal