Fgm Barbaric Practice

[emmie]

i read this piece the other day and wondered how on earth we ever got to the point where it exists at all. I am well aware it's been discussed before.
How can they stamp this out in one generation?


http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/islington_leading_the_charge_on_eliminating_female_genital_mutilation_1_3315989

[sp1814]

It's going to be difficult, but not impossible. The difficulties lie in the fact that it's a hidden process, both emotionally, physically and legally.

What I mean by that is - you can't tell if a woman has undergone this process, simply by looking at her. When I was growing up in London in the 70s, I was aware of many older Africans who had tribal scarring on their faces. This is something that appears to have completely died out now, because you don't see anyone of African descent with these facial markings. I assume that second and third generation Britons of African descent have simply moved away from this custom.

However, FGM isn't obvious. And even if Islington is able to crack down on the practice here, what's to stop parents from taking their daughters abroad for the 'procedure'?

I think a combination of education, and 'Anglicising' (not sure if that's a real word) will have a positive impact on reducing FGM, but within a generation is pushing it.

[emmie]

which is exactly what the article says. That they take their daughters abroad. Personally i would jail anyone, parent, practitioner who is involved in it. Even if it meant the child goes to foster carers, because i see this as one of the most barbaric practices performed on girls, some like the woman in the article, scarred for life. Good she is speaking out, but this sort of thinking has to be stamped out for good.

[sp1814]

emmie

But the problem is - its better to prevent this from happening at all. I don't know how the police could do this.

[douglas9401]

I suppose the speed at which something as questionable as this is banished to history will depend on how deeply it's ingrained in a culture.
People are very strange.

[emmie]

its obviously deeply ingrained in some cultures, more problems for doctors, hospitals, social services, over those who continue on with the old ways.

[ToraToraTora]

don't try looking for common sense when religion is involved.

[emmie]

i said before all schools across the country should have advisor's on hand, or have access to them via social services, it can be handled carefully, but this is not an acceptable practice,
and that doctors, hospitals report any case they see, it does state in the article that many are turning up at the hospitals because of difficulty in having children, or being sexually active.

[emmie]

this isn't necessarily religious, it's mostly cultural.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes just as suspect child bruises and other injuries are generally investigated, after being discovered during routine medical examinations, so should these mutilations, and then the parents severely punished.

[emmie]

thing is the child may say nothing for fear of getting the parents into hot water.

[emmie]

and they can't just ask the parents that they wish to look at her vaginal area to see if it's been damaged, this isn't something like a bruise which is on the surface. That's the problem, so the only way is early education, and talks given to the parents.

[sp1814]

emmie

I think that teachers need to be on the lookout for signs of distress (discomfort after going to the loo etc), and if so, social services can get involved.

However, without trying to sound like I'm trivialising the issue, I suspect that the practice (like tribal scarring) is something that will lose its 'appeal' through education and assimilation.

[sandyRoe]

I know that petitions are thought by many to be ineffective, but if they do anything it's that they show those in authority that an issue is causing concern. This might be worth signing.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52740

[emmie]

sorry but this isn't a new issue, it's been around a long while, and newcomers to these shores perhaps should be made fully aware of it's illegality, early education for the parents and the children might see it stamped out.

[jomifl]

If only it was taken as seriously as paedophilia, which pales by comparison.

[emmie]

this idea that she has to be cut to be pure, so she won't enjoy sex seems completely anathema to me, as many of the cultural practices we see from third world countries. Maybe some of ours aren't so good, but this is one i wished i had never ever read about. I watched the documentary on the lady in question, its very harrowing.

[sp1814]

Seems like we are in agreement on this.

[emmie]

perhaps, but how do they stop it, i would most definitely put out information in all schools, doctors, hospitals, newsletters about its practice, clearly state that it is illegal and anyone caught doing it will go to prison.

[LazyGun]

There has been an increased surge of action by activists recently, including a petition organised by the Guardian urging the government to instruct all schools to implement a programme of education and training for staff on how to spot/discuss the issue.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/06/female-genital-mutilation-foreign-crime-common-uk

Scotland have taken this on board and are already notifying schools; DfE England/Wales seem to be a bit slower off the mark.

Hospitals are being instructed by the Government to report all instances they find of FGM for the first time, and GPs are again being reminded of their obligations in respect of suspected FGM.

But perhaps we just need a tougher approach, rather like they do in France, to the situation;

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/10/france-tough-stance-female-genital-mutilation-fgm

[sp1814]

Seems reasonable, in conjunction with what Islington is already doing. However, it would have to be a coordinated countrywide initiative...rather than leaving it to individual local authorities.

Glad that my council (Islington) is leading the way on this.