Despite its widespread prevalence here in the UK, and despite its illegality (strengthened in 2003), no one has yet been prosecuted here for the crime of female genital mutilation. From Force Change, to David Cameron:
Since it was outlawed in 1985, not a single case of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been prosecuted. According to research by FORWARD, the leading UK charity working against FGM, approximately 66,000 girls have been mutilated in the UK, and 24,000 girls under 16 in England and Wales could be at risk of FGM.
FGM is the alteration of female genitals for non-medical purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or labia minora, the excision of the labia majora, and infibulation, which effectively seals most of the vagina closed. It is thought that mutilating the genitals in these ways will prevent young women from having sex, and thus ruining their virtue. This torturous practice is a dangerous and immoral means of exercising control over female sexuality.
The Home Office webpage for FGM offers facts, statistics, and a few phone numbers, but gives little information about how to report these crimes, what kind of investigations are made, and what kind of charges are filed. The information is given only in English.
In order to take action toward eliminating FGM, the UK government must provide victims with more information about reporting, investigating, and charging FGM as a crime, and must actually investigate and prosecute reported FGM cases.
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