Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Law and Practice

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is now widely recognised both domestically and internationally as child abuse and a serious human rights violation. However, it remains a practice shrouded in secrecy and one which all too often has escaped the reaches of the child protection system. It is vital in order to prevent FGM that all relevant professionals have a clear understanding of the socio-cultural reasons for the practice, the factors which may indicate a girl or young woman is at real risk of being forced to undergo FGM and of the effective preventative legal steps that should be taken. This specialist title, written in close consultation with survivors of FGM and front line practitioners from across the spectrum of disciplines, provides a comprehensive and readily accessible guide to all of these matters. Set within a human rights framework, this book summarises the key legal developments and debates across international law, family law, immigration and the criminal law. Female Genital Mutilation: Law and Practice is an invaluable guide to this complex and sensitive topic for judges, lawyers, social workers, teachers, midwives, and other related professionals.

1. Introduction and Definition 2. Statistical Overview 3. International Framework 4. Criminal Offences 5. Medicalisation of FGM 6. FGM Protection Orders 7. Mandatory Reporting 8. Care Proceedings 9. Medical Examinations 10. Asylum Law and Policy 11. Resources and Useful Contacts 12. Recommended Reading 13. Annexes