This collection provides information about female genital mutilation (FGM), designed for students and registrants of nursing, midwifery and social work and the allied health and social care professions. They need to know about FGM to:
- recognise women and girls at risk and escalate immediately to the relevant bodies.
- meet the needs of women and girls who have had FGM with a compassionate, non-judgmental, person-centred, holistic approach.
- signpost people to appropriate supportive care and resources.
- work effectively with multi-professional and multi-agency teams.
- practice within their respective professional codes and cultural competence requirements.
It is also a topic that will interest students and practitioners in the fields of ethics and law, the police, educators ranging from primary to higher education, commissioners and the public.
FGM is an important global social justice and health issue situated within the umbrella terms of gender-based violence and persistent harmful practices. The practice is illegal in the UK and Ireland and in many other countries and is a gross violation of human rights. It is an act of violence against women and girls and is child abuse. Practising FGM is rooted in controlling, patriarchally constructed societies, ideologies, and power imbalances. It results in physical, sexual, psychological and economic harm and suffering (UN Women, 2017).
It impacts both women and girls living in countries that practise FGM, and those who are migrants (including asylum seekers), living in destination countries, where they are underrepresented ethnic minoritised populations. FGM causes people to face discrimination, social marginalisation and health inequalities. Such inequalities relate to the prevention of FGM, health promotion, access to quality healthcare services, and positive health outcomes (Gonzales-Timoneda, 2021; WHO, 2025). This speaks to the importance of having strong international, national and local political will, collaborations, policies and strategies in place to eradicate FGM. These are also needed to provide effective care and services for those who have been subjected to FGM. People need responsive, well-funded, coordinated and accessible integrated multi-agency services, health and social care services, and education programmes. This is vital to address inequalities and improve population and individual health and wellbeing outcomes for women and girls of the global majority, wherever they may live.
Further Resources
Advice
- Talk to your GP: you can talk them about the feelings you are having, and they may refer you to specialist services if they feel it will help you.
- Health care professionals may have access to support resources through their professional bodies and employing organisations.
- Students will have access to support resources on their university website.
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