28.06.2017 In: Female Genital Mutilation
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has reported that it saw 2,102 instances of female genital mutilation (FGM) between January and March 2017.
According to the NHS, 1,236 women and girls had their FGM information collected in the Enhanced Dataset for the first time. The FGM Enhanced Dataset supports the Department of Health’s FGM Prevention Programme by presenting a national picture of the prevalence of the practice in England.
The statistics do not indicate how recently the FGM was undertaken. The NHS added that it also does not necessarily mean that this is the woman or girl’s first attendance for FGM, rather that it is the first time their information has been collected in the FGM Enhanced Dataset.
FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, with the law being amended in 2003 to prevent girls travelling outside the country to undergo FGM abroad.
The Enhanced Dataset began in April 2015 and, since then, has seen more than 1,200 newly recorded women and girls identified as having had FGM each quarter. The Enhanced Dataset is comprised of information provided by healthcare providers in England. These include acute hospital providers, mental health providers and GP practices.
According to the NHS, almost one out of every two newly recorded women and girls live in London NHS Commissioning Region (47 per cent). It was also found that just 25 per cent of newly recorded women and girls presenting with FGM have a known country where the practice was undertaken.
It was found that most women and girls reported having undergone FGM between the ages of five and nine (45 per cent), while five per cent had it performed on them when they were over 18.
A total of 94 per cent of women and girls with FGM attending NHS trusts and GP practices were taken out of the country to undergo FGM.
According to the NHS, 1,236 women and girls had their FGM information collected in the Enhanced Dataset for the first time. The FGM Enhanced Dataset supports the Department of Health’s FGM Prevention Programme by presenting a national picture of the prevalence of the practice in England.
The statistics do not indicate how recently the FGM was undertaken. The NHS added that it also does not necessarily mean that this is the woman or girl’s first attendance for FGM, rather that it is the first time their information has been collected in the FGM Enhanced Dataset.
FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, with the law being amended in 2003 to prevent girls travelling outside the country to undergo FGM abroad.
The Enhanced Dataset began in April 2015 and, since then, has seen more than 1,200 newly recorded women and girls identified as having had FGM each quarter. The Enhanced Dataset is comprised of information provided by healthcare providers in England. These include acute hospital providers, mental health providers and GP practices.
According to the NHS, almost one out of every two newly recorded women and girls live in London NHS Commissioning Region (47 per cent). It was also found that just 25 per cent of newly recorded women and girls presenting with FGM have a known country where the practice was undertaken.
It was found that most women and girls reported having undergone FGM between the ages of five and nine (45 per cent), while five per cent had it performed on them when they were over 18.
A total of 94 per cent of women and girls with FGM attending NHS trusts and GP practices were taken out of the country to undergo FGM.
Other relevant links
FGM cases found in Swedish school
24.06.2014 In: Female Genital Mutilation
As many as 60 cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) have been found in a single community in eastern Sweden since March, according to Swedish news provider The Local. School health services in Norrköping reportedly identified the issue when it emerged that all 30 of the girls in a single class...
Muslim Council of Britain: FGM ‘un-Islamic’
23.06.2014 In: Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation is “un-Islamic” and is bringing the faith into disrepute, according to the Muslim Council of Britain. The London Evening Standard reports that UK’s leading Muslim organisation is campaigning to show followers of the religion that FGM is contrary to Islam...