Following the 1989 child protection Act, there was much controversy and discussion about whether FGM should be considered to be child abuse. Conferences organised by other groups had concluded that FGM was child abuse.
Black Women's Health and Family Support organised this particular conference in order to try and gain a vast range of opinions on the subject of FGM in relation to child abuse. Particular emphasis was placed on obtaining the views of people from the FGM practising communities. The conclusion of this conference was that FGM should be considered as physical abuse, not child abuse.
The conference started with two speakers, who looked at:
1.The practice in Somalia.
The speaker, Sadia Musa Ahmed, argued that, from an African perspective, female genital mutilation is not a form of child abuse. Somali families love their children and treat them as future assets and joys of life.
Female genital mutilation is seen as a prerequisite to marriage; a large proportion of Somali men, although against female genital mutilation, were reluctant to marry uncircumcised girls themselves.
In Somali culture, peer groups are important determinants in the decision to be circumcised. When friends and neighbours are circumcised, other girls of the same age come under heavy pressure from the peer group to undergo the operation.
2. The practice in Britain.
The speaker, Shamis Dirir, spoke of the work of BWHAFS
There then followed four workshops on:
· The health problems associated with female genital mutilation;
· The role of social workers;
· The idea behind the practice and the strategy for ending it;
· The role of the voluntary organisations.
Finally, interim guidelines and code of practice for the protection of female children at risk from female circumcision, was circulated. Conference participants gave comments and suggestions.
|
