Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
On this page you can find out what female genital mutilation (FGM) is, how to report that a girl is at risk of FGM and advice and support if you have had FGM.
What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime in this country. It is also a crime to take a British national or permanent resident abroad for FGM or to help someone trying to do this.
You could be sentenced to 14 years in prison for mutilating a women or child in this way or for helping someone to do it.
FGM is any procedure that is meant to change or injure a girl's or woman's genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is sometimes called 'female circumcision' or 'female genital cutting'. It's mostly carried out on young girls.
FGM procedures can cause:
- severe bleeding
- infections
- problems with givin birth later in life - including the death of the baby
Find out more about FGM from Forward.
Preventing FGM
If you think a girl or woman is at risk of FGM
If you think a girl or young woman is at risk of FGM, you should tell us immediately using our online form or phone us on 020 3373 4600
If the child or young woman is at immediate risk call the police on 999
If the girl or woman has already been taken abroad, you should phone the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 1500.
If you think you may be at risk of FGM
Under 18s
If you under 118 and think you may be at risk of FGM, you should phone our Children;s Rights Service on 0800 01542 443
Over 18s
If you are 18 or over, you can get advice and support from us call us on 08081961482 (lines are open 24 hours a day)
Advice and support
If you are over 18 and a survivor of FGM, you can contact Hestia for one-to-one support.
If you would like to learn more about safeguarding girls or women from FGM, the service also offers safeguarding training and community workshops.
Support for professionals
Our FGM Protocol (PDF) includes information about supporting women and girls who have undergone or who are at risk from FGM.
It sets out your responsibilities as a professional in relation to FGM, provides information on risk factors and support available for women and girls.
Contact Us
Children and Young People's Service
London Borough of Newham
Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
020 3373 4600
Children's Rights Service
07909906954