BWHAFS has long been involved in strenuous efforts to eradicate FGM by simultaneously lobbying governments to adopt suitable and sensitive legislation, as well as working in the affected community through education programmes with a focus on health, through counselling, youth projects and advocacy.
At the time of writing (summer 2003) the following amendments to the Female Circumcision Act 1985 are under consideration:
- Prosecution upon entry to the UK of a person who has aided, abetted, counselled, procured, excised, infibulated or otherwise been involved in FGM, despite FGM being legal in the country where it was performed.
- Conviction to lead to four to ten years in prison.
- Monitoring FGM in the UK through mandatory reporting as with communicable (transmittable) diseases.
- Changing 'Female Circumcision' to 'Female Genital Mutilation'.
Essentially these measures are intended to prevent families from taking their daughters abroad to be circumcised, which is a laudable aim that BWHAFS, as an organisation dedicated to eradicating FGM world-wide, wholeheartedly concurs with.
However, we believe that there are a great many difficulties with this proposed legislation: how and by whom will monitoring be carried out? Will female children from certain designated countries be subjected to medical examination when they return to the UK? If parents or guardians receive a custodial sentence, what will happen to the children and will it be in their best interests?
BWHAFS and WOMANKIND Worldwide organised an event at the House of Commons to raise the profile of these concerns about the amendments, and are currently involved in lobbying for clarification of the situation.
Link to:
Shamis' Speech at the Houses of Parliament
Amendment Position Paper
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