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AIBU?

FGM in the UK, illegal since 1985 but no prosecutions, how can we change this?

370 replies

OvaryAction · 14/11/2013 20:20

I have just read this article stating that two people have been arrested for performing Female Genital Mutilation on a baby less than two months old.

The UK's efforts to end FGM are being seriously held back by a lack of national strategy or action plan. There are plenty of guidelines out there for teachers, midwives, social workers, police and so on, but they are not obligatory reading and many people in positions where they could identify victims and girls and women at risk are simply not aware of the problem or the role they could play in fixing it. this documentary explains this problem very well and the woman presenting it has created a petition asking the home office to act now and create an effective national action plan.

Please, please sign it and share it. FGM breaches numerous human rights including the right to no torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and causes lifelong physical and psychological trauma to it's survivors. In some cases FGM is fatal.

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hermioneweasley · 14/11/2013 20:24

Signed

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piebald · 14/11/2013 20:26

Signed

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mumaa · 14/11/2013 20:26

Signed

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Lilacroses · 14/11/2013 20:28

signed.

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thenewqueen · 14/11/2013 20:28

Signed

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Heartbrokenmum73 · 14/11/2013 20:29

Signed

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PlateSpinningAtAllTimes · 14/11/2013 20:30

done

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piebald · 14/11/2013 20:31

If you change the title of this thread you may catch more peoples attention and therefore more signatures on the petition

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somewheresomehow · 14/11/2013 20:33

Signed

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MySiamese · 14/11/2013 20:34

signed and shared

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Ilovewaleswhenitrains · 14/11/2013 20:34

Signed

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KnittedJimmyChoos · 14/11/2013 20:35

Signed.

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clpsmum · 14/11/2013 20:35

Signed

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OvaryAction · 14/11/2013 20:36

Thank you all Flowers

Pie what should I change to?

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missmash · 14/11/2013 20:36

Signed, but agree with piebald, think a change of title will help get more much needed signatories. Good on you for starting though.

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Livingtothefull · 14/11/2013 20:38

Signed

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MrsBennington · 14/11/2013 20:39

Much as I find FGM abhorrent I really can not see how any "action plan" or "national strategy" can work when it is the parent (carer) determined to do this in the "name" of their religion. Its hideous but it needs the communities that do this to start standing up and saying its unacceptable and not some government "initiative".

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DinosaurTooScary · 14/11/2013 20:41

Signed.

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OvaryAction · 14/11/2013 20:44

MrsBennington it would help by equipping professionals who may come across children at risk with the knowledge they would need to stop it.

For example a little girl may be telling her teacher that she is going on holiday and will come back grown up, if the teacher is not aware of FGM, or is aware of FGM but is not sure what she can do about it, or who to speak to. Or even is afraid to do anything for fear of being seen as racist then the girl would be taken away and mutilated when it could have been prevented.

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JackNoneReacher · 14/11/2013 20:44

Signed, I'd love to see something done about this.

I disagree MrsB. If it became obligatory to report babies at risk or those who had already done it (with a view to prosecute) it would send a very clear message. That it will not be tolerated. Feels at the moment that it is brushed off as 'cultural' still by some.

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LaGuardia · 14/11/2013 20:44

Shared and signed.

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nosleeptillbedtime · 14/11/2013 20:45

Signed. I was appalled when a friend of mine, who is a child psychologist, defended FGM as a cultural practice!!!!!!

MrsBennington, I am not sure if is done in the name of religion, isn't it more of a cultural practice? It does largely take place in muslim communities, but does exist in some christian communities as well, as I understand it.

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JackNoneReacher · 14/11/2013 20:47

how about???

AIBU...

...to ask for you help in stopping female genital mutilation

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KungFuBustle · 14/11/2013 20:48

Signed

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OvaryAction · 14/11/2013 20:56

The documentary I linked to in the OP is fantastic, I've seen a fair few documentaries on the topic through work and this one is by far the best I've seen. Anyone who is interested in learning more about FGM really should watch it, there is a particularly interesting section where some young men from a practicing community, who initially support FGM, learn what actually happens. One nearly faints on seeing a Plasticine model and they all swear not to allow their daughters be cut in the future.

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