New quarterly NHS statistics on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have been released.
FGM is the deliberate cutting or removal of a female’s external genitalia.
There were 975 newly recorded cases between October and December 2018.
Southwark
City News asked Alice MacDonald, a Labour councillor in Southwark, about the figures:
“It is an extremely high rate. One girl is too many to have undergone FGM”
“We have to do more in London and faster to ensure no woman has to undergo FGM – its a life sentence”
“Southwark as a council is really committed with those communities activists supporting them.”
We need “a holistic approach across the services the council provides”.
Campaigners
Somali-born campaigner and survivor of FGM, Hibo Wardere:
I have been fighting this issue for years, stressing that education is key.”
“ I want to educate on the effects of FGM – it’s a life sentence.”
“Education will give girls the power to say no, giving them a way to get their dignity back.”
Hibo has released a book, Cut: One Woman’s Fight Against FGM, about her experience. “I still think FGM is under-reported as people feel like they can’t come forward.”
“They don’t feel confident enough and we have a long way to go in terms of the professionals”
“When I first came to this country I never spoke about FGM, I was in a deep depression and for years I didn’t talk about it”
“This is a human right issue and everyone needs to get involved.”
The Orchid Project
Miranda Dobson spoke to City News about what needs to be done:
“It is really important that children and families of people affected by FGM have access to information.”
“The government needs to be investing at the grassroots level to support community-led change.”
Miranda Dobson in an interview with City News. Sex Education
New guidelines on compulsory sex education in schools were announced on Monday.
They o utline how secondary schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM.
The curriculum will also cover other forms of honour abuse, forced marriage and domestic abuse.
Campaigners want to improve education surrounding FGM in the Sub-Sahara and the Middle-East. Link to data:
https://files.digital.nhs.uk/B8/848BE6/FGM%202018%20Q4%20-%20Report.pdf
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Headline Female Genital Mutilation: increasing emphasis on educationShort Headline FGM campaigners emphasise importance of educationStandfirst There were 975 new cases of FGM between October and December 2018
New quarterly NHS statistics on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have been released.
FGM is the deliberate cutting or removal of a female’s external genitalia.
There were 975 newly recorded cases between October and December 2018.
Southwark
City News asked Alice MacDonald, a Labour councillor in Southwark, about the figures:
“It is an extremely high rate. One girl is too many to have undergone FGM”
“We have to do more in London and faster to ensure no woman has to undergo FGM – its a life sentence”
“Southwark as a council is really committed with those communities activists supporting them.”
We need “a holistic approach across the services the council provides”.
Campaigners
Somali-born campaigner and survivor of FGM, Hibo Wardere:
I have been fighting this issue for years, stressing that education is key.”
“ I want to educate on the effects of FGM – it’s a life sentence.”
“Education will give girls the power to say no, giving them a way to get their dignity back.”
Hibo has released a book, Cut: One Woman’s Fight Against FGM, about her experience. “I still think FGM is under-reported as people feel like they can’t come forward.”
“They don’t feel confident enough and we have a long way to go in terms of the professionals”
“When I first came to this country I never spoke about FGM, I was in a deep depression and for years I didn’t talk about it”
“This is a human right issue and everyone needs to get involved.”
The Orchid Project
Miranda Dobson spoke to City News about what needs to be done:
“It is really important that children and families of people affected by FGM have access to information.”
“The government needs to be investing at the grassroots level to support community-led change.”
Miranda Dobson in an interview with City News. Sex Education
New guidelines on compulsory sex education in schools were announced on Monday.
They o utline how secondary schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM.
The curriculum will also cover other forms of honour abuse, forced marriage and domestic abuse.
Campaigners want to improve education surrounding FGM in the Sub-Sahara and the Middle-East. Link to data:
https://files.digital.nhs.uk/B8/848BE6/FGM%202018%20Q4%20-%20Report.pdf
