Legal and Ethical Issues: Violence against Women and Girls

Question 1

What does FGM stand for?

Answer 1

Female Genital Mutilation

Question 2

Define Female Genital mutilation

Answer 2

All procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genetalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or non-medical reasons

Question 3

What are the 4 types of FGM?

Answer 3

* Type 1: Clitoridectomy: partial/total removal of the clitoris and (in rare cases, only the prepuce)
** Type 2: **Excition: Partial/total removal of clitoris and labia minora, with/without excision of labia majora
** Type 3: **Infibulation (Pharaonic circumcision): narrowing of vaginal opening through creation of a covering seal (formed by cutting and repositionin the iner/outer labia , with/without removal of clitoris
*** Type 4: **Other: all other harmful procedures to teh female genetalia for non-medical purposes e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, cauterising genetalia

Question 4

Define Type 1 FGM

Answer 4

* Type 1: Clitoridectomy: partial/total removal of the clitoris and (in rare cases, only the prepuce)

Question 5

Define Type 2 FGM

Answer 5

*** Type 2: **Excition: Partial/total removal of clitoris and labia minora, with/without excision of labia majora

Question 6

Define type 3 FGM

Answer 6

*** Type 3: **Infibulation (Pharaonic circumcision): narrowing of vaginal opening through creation of a covering seal (formed by cutting and repositionin the iner/outer labia , with/without removal of clitoris

Question 7

Define type 4 FGM

Answer 7

*** Type 4: **Other: all other harmful procedures to teh female genetalia for non-medical purposes e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, cauterising genetalia

Question 8

What procedures are availble to try and reverse FGM?

Answer 8

• De-infibulation (defibulation/FGM reversal): surgical procedure to open up closed vaginal of Type 3 FGM

Question 9

What is Re-infibulation?

Answer 9

Also known as reinfibulation and re-suturing
Restiching of FGM type 3 ro re-close the vagina agian after child birth

Question 10

What are the laws on Re-infibulation in the UK?

Answer 10

Illegal, constitues FGM

Question 11

When should de-infibulation be offered to pregnant women?

Answer 11

Offered to all women with Type 3 FGM
* Later stages of pregnancy
* After 1st stage of labour

Question 12

What terminology is more recognisable to communities of women affected by FGM?

Answer 12

• Cutting
• Female circumsicion

Question 13

What are the reasons/justifications for FGM being carried out in certain communities?

Answer 13

• Preservation of virginity and chasity
• Religion, (mistaken belief taht its a religious requrement)
• Social acceptance
• Fear of social exclusion
• To ensure the girl is married /improve marriage prospects
• Hygiene cleanliness
• Increasing sexual pleasure for male
• Family honour
• Enhancing fertility

Question 14

What are the short term impacts on health of FGM?

Answer 14

• Severe pain and shock
• Inefction
• Injury to adjacent tissues
• Sprians, dislocations, broken bones or internal injuries from being restrained
• Immediate fatal haemmorhaging
• Infection by blood borne virus

Question 15

What are the long term impacts of FGM?

Answer 15

• Urine retention
• Difficulties in menstruation
• Uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections
• Cysts and neuromas
• Complications in pregnancy and childbirth
• Increased risk of fistula
• On-going impact of trauma/PTSD
• Sexual dysfunction

Question 16

What act protects women from FGM in Scotland

Answer 16

Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005

Offence of female genital mutilation
A person who performs an action mentioned in subsection (2) in relation to the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, prepuce of the clitoris, clitoris or vagina of another person is guilty of an offence.
(2) Those actions are—
- excising it;
- infibulating it; or
- otherwise mutilating it.

Question 17

Where does teh law stand in terms of aiding or abetting FGM in Scotland?

Answer 17

(3) Aiding and abetting female genital mutilation
A person who aids, abets, counsels, procures or incites—
a person to commit an offence under section 1;
another person to perform an action mentioned in section 1(2) in relation to the whole or any part of that other person’s own labia majora, labia minora, prepuce of the clitoris, clitoris or vagina; or
a person who is not a United Kingdom national or permanent United Kingdom resident to do a relevant act of genital mutilation outside the United Kingdom, commits an offence.

Question 18

When may there be signs of increased risk of FGM in young girls/women?

Answer 18

• Older sister/cousins undergone FGM
• the mother (and/or father) has requested re-infibulation following delivery
• Parents express views which show that they value the practice
• Girl is withdrawn from all teaching classes in Personal, Social or Health Education
• Communities less integrates into british society more likley to carry out FGM

Question 19

What may be the signs of reduced risk of FGM?

Answer 19

• Communities