Forward has recently published a study on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Safeguarding as around 60,000 girls are still at risk in the UK. In the last decade several new safeguarding measures have been introduced such as the FGM Manadatory Reporting Duty, which obliges professionals to report to the police if a girl under the age 18 has undergone FGM. The study examined the lived experiences of African diaspora communities and professionals of the these new measures, using the Participatory Evaluative Ethnographic Research (PEER) approach. 

Results

  • Due to the growing attention families have been facing more suspicion and stigmatisation from schools to healthcare
  • FGM Manadatory Reporting Duty has made some professionals to jump to conclusions and report cases without sufficent evidence
  • Healthcare and education professionals do not assess all indicators of FGM, even only finding one led to referral to social services or to the police
  • Thanks to the FGM Information Sharing System many women who underwent FGM had  uncomfortable and disstressing conversations with healthcare workers on this topic during their pregnancy
  • As part of the new FGM safeguarding interventions police conducted home visits unanounced, which was a huge disstress for families
  • Many participants reported a constant feeling of being 'suspected' in every area of their lives

Recommendations

  • Improved training for professionals
  • Review FGM safeguarding in medical care
  • Reconsider police involvement in routine FGM safeguarding
  • Provide support for families impacted by FGM safeguarding
  • Review the national FGM safeguarding risk assessment guidelines
  • Review the special policy approach to FGM safeguarding
  • Community centric approach
 do not harm
Publisher
Publication type
Author
Amy Abdelshahid
Dr Kate Smith
Khadra Habane
Total pages
44
Countries this relates to

Childhub

You might like..

yes
0
345
This document describes the safeguarding and protection policy and procedures for the safety and protection of children in sport. The document was developed by the Terre des hommes Foundation, based on the International Standards for Children in…
0
25
This facilitators training guide has been developed by Keeping Children Safe to support those delivering training on child safeguarding. This guide focuses on exercises and tools that can be used to ensure organisations child safeguarding measures…
0
3
"The numbers of trafficked children are on the rise." stressed Sarah Di Giglio, Senior Policy Officer on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery at the IOM.  According to ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking) “Albanian and…
no
0
86
According to a review of 69 studies covering 9 countries, physical punishment does not appear to improve a child’s positive behavior or social competences. Instead, it makes it worse. Several interviews with experts given. Issue at hand: UNICEF…
0
3
The mother of a three-year-old girl has become the first person in the UK to be found guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM). The 37-year-old woman, from east London, was convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey. Her 34-year-old partner was…
0
99
UNICEF has conducted Adverse Childhood Experiences Study in Serbia and one of the key findings is that experiences during childhood can affect health throughout the life course. This study is also showing that for every 100 adults in Serbia, about…
yes
0
193
This ChildHub infographic explains how children's rights can be affected by a worsening environment. It also provides suggestions on what Child Protection Professionals can do to ensure children's rights in regards to the environment. Sources: 1)…
yes
0
63
This ChildHub video explains the interconnection of child rights and the environment, and provides examples of what a child protection officer can do to protect children from environmental harm.
no
0
372
A study finds that trauma in childhood can harm mental and physical health in later life. Context Research has shown that childhood trauma can affect physical and mental health in a multitude of ways The Study “Exploring the health burden…
0
1
Becca Dove, family worker and Tim Fisher, social worker wrote an article in CommunityCare on lived experience and peer support approaches in child protection. Beginning with a story on a real-world example telling how social services were…
yes
0
91
  Sasha and Nikita came to Bucharest on their own, as they are a couple. Sasha is 17 years old, while Nikita is 16 years old and they are both Ukrainian. When I talked to them, they were living in Bucharest, volunteering to play with Ukrainian…
0
44
UNICEF has conducted Adverse Childhood Experiences Study in Serbia and one of the key findings is that experiences during childhood can affect health throughout the life course. This study is also showing that for every 100 adults in Serbia, about…
0
852
This policy brief offers an overview of the effects that COVID-19 has and will have in the wellbeing of children. It is especially emphasized the inequal distribution of consequences, where the effects of pandemic will mostly affect children in poor…
0
633
The Children’s Commissioner and her team made an announced visit to Millbank Reception and Assessment Centre in Kent on 6 August 2010. Millbank is a residential reception and assessment centre commissioned and funded by Kent County Council. It…
0
1
A campaign by charities in the UK has emphasized the importance of a coordinated response for vulnerable young people aged 16–17. Support for children in need stops at 18, but very few vulnerable teenagers are referred to adult services.…