MLP in gender equality seminar - Combating FGM and other harmful practices - 28-29 April 2016 - United Kingdom

The mutual learning seminar, held in London on 28-29 April 2016, examined and discussed good practices from the UK and Italy in tackling female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and other harmful practices. Discussion of the good practices took place amongst eleven Member States and with representatives from the European Commission, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the End FGM European Network. The presentations of good practices from the UK and Italy led to detailed discussion about multi-faceted ways in which FGM and other harmful practices can be tackled and prevented through legislation, improving the evidence base on FGM and the role of awareness raising and training.

In the UK, FGM is a criminal act if performed in or outside the UK. Along with forced marriage and other harmful practices, FGM part of the cross-governmental strategy on violence against women and girls. The strategy covers prevention, services to victims, criminal justice sanctions, working in partnership and building trust with local communities. FGM is also recognised in the law as a form of child abuse and FGM Protection Orders can be issued to protect victims or potential victims from FGM. In 2015 mandatory reporting was introduced, requiring health professions and teachers in England and Wales to report cases where FGM is identified or disclosed. In cases where FGM is suspected of taking place there are guidelines in place for health and education professionals to follow. Good practices include training, guidelines and protocols in the health sector, working with girls to inform them about FGM and where to get help if they are at risk, and multi-stakeholder initiatives to mainstream FGM prevention into policy on child protection and gender equality.

In Italy, FGM is part of an integrated system of gender equality. The law addresses both the prohibition and the prevention of FGM across all government departments in relation to monitoring of the incidence of FGM, services for victims, awareness raising, and training and guidance for health professionals. Two Strategic Plans aimed eradicating and preventing FGM were agreed in 2007 and 2011. Good practices include the provision of specialist services for victims of FGM in Public Health Centres and a dedicated toll free number with information on support and health care. Funding is granted for innovative interventions, research and data collection, training of health professionals, educators, cultural mediators and other frontline staff, and awareness raising campaigns. This has resulted in an improved evidence base and service provision, and changes in attitudes amongst service providers. Interventions to address and prevent forced marriage include research to estimate the population ‘at risk’, an assessment of services, recommendations to support victims and potential victims, and the provision of a dedicated shelter for victims of forced marriage.

The discussion amongst participating countries emphasized the importance of sensitive, coordinated and comprehensive approaches to tackling FGM and other harmful practices. The need for a common methodology and definition of FGM prevalence was highlighted. In this regard a recent study by EIGE and a Daphne project in several Member States is working towards common methodologies in order to produce comparable data on the extent of the problem. In many countries preventing and eradicating FGM takes into account target population groups of migrants from FGM practicing countries, and more recently in relation to protection of refugees and asylum seekers trafficked for forced marriage. Several Member States highlighted the importance of the Istanbul Convention in providing a framework for implementing national laws and interventions to prevent FGM, forced marriage and other harmful practices. Overall participants were in agreement that FGM, forced marriage and other harmful practices are key gender equality issues that need to be integrated into national policy, multi-sectoral working, effective service provision, and work with women, girls and local communities affected by FGM.