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Female Genital Mutilation

Answer

The multi-agency practice guidelines, Female Genital Mutilation (2011), include a chapter of guidance for social workers. The guidance underlines the importance of applying child safeguarding procedures in order to minimise or prevent harm to the child or children. The guidance advises that when there is a referral to children's social care, a strategy meeting should be convened with relevant agencies, in order to agree a plan to protect the child. It is suggested that information should be provided to the family on the risks associated with female genital mutilation (FGM) and that securing parental consent for any action plan is desirable. If a girl faces the immediate risk of undergoing female genital mutilation then an emergency protection order can be obtained. The guidelines advise that a girl who has already undergone FGM should not be on the child protection register—unless other child protection concerns exist. The web link is www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_124588.pdf. Working Together to Safeguard Children—A Guide to Inter-agency Working to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children also contains a section on FGM, aimed at all health professionals working directly with children and young people. The web link is: www. education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationdetail/page1/DCSF-00305-2010. The joined-up approach that this coalition Government have taken to tackle FGM has been successful in drawing together, co-ordinating and driving work from the Home Office, Foreign Office, Department for Education and Department of Health. By looking beyond traditional departmental silos, we have made significant progress in raising awareness of FGM and supporting professionals to intervene. We have an ambitious action plan for 2011-12 to prevent and tackle FGM, co-ordinated across all relevant government departments. We have also reached out to work with a range of charities and civil society partners that are active in this area. Their wealth of experience has been crucial in shaping our work. Communications about FGM are key to bringing the issue to more people's attention. More than 40,000 leaflets and 40,000 posters have been circulated to schools, health services, charities and community groups around the country—this is not an end in itself but a crucial foundation on which to build. The new multi-agency practice guidelines launched in February 2011 are a key step in ensuring that professionals are able and confident to intervene to protect girls at risk. There have been some successful initiatives from the police too—the Metropolitan Police's Project Azure's work at Heathrow to speak to families potentially taking the girls overseas for FGM has strengthened our last line of defence for these girls.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

11004; 729 c400-1WA

Session

2010-12

Notes

Answer received between Monday 25 July and Monday 1 August 2011.

Subjects

Children Female genital mutilation Protection Social services

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk