Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”). It is a form of child abuse and violence against women. FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

 Section 5B of the 2003 Act1 introduces a mandatory reporting duty which requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report ‘known’ cases of FGM in under 18s which they identify in the course of their professional work to the police. The duty came into force on 31 October 2015.

Further information can be found here.

• Female Genital Mutilation FGM Factsheet download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineFemale Genital Mutilation FGM Factsheet
• Female Genital Mutilation FGM Mandatory reporting duty download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineFemale Genital Mutilation FGM Mandatory reporting duty