8
Jul
2013
By Calvin at 11:33 GMT, 12 years ago
After discovering that more than 70 women and girls as young as seven seek treatment every month, the NSPCC has launched a 24-hour helpline to protect UK children from female genital mutilation (FGM).
Anyone who is worried about a child being or has been a victim of FGM can contact 0800 028 3550 for information and support. You can also email the NSPCC at fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
As reported on these new pages on 20th June, FGM is a very serious crime and is a form of child abuse common to some African, Asian and Middle Eastern communities in the UK.
The NSPCC reports that this act is ‘carried out in secret and often without anaesthetic [and] involves the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs. Victims are usually aged between four and ten, but some are babies.
‘Female genital mutilation is illegal and life-threatening initiation ritual can leave young victims in agony and with physical and psychological problems that can continue into adulthood.
‘The NSPCC’s dedicated helpline will give advice, information and support for anyone concerned that a child's welfare is at risk because of female genital mutilation. Though callers' details can remain anonymous, any information that could protect a child from abuse will be passed to the police or social services.
‘The Metropolitan Police force is also supporting the FGM helpline as part of its crime prevention work and has provided training to the NSPCC.
‘Over 1,700 victims were referred to specialist clinics in the last two years, however the NSPCC believe the true number of victims is even higher as only a tiny fraction come forward for medical help. Those who do are usually adults with maternity problems.’
Please help stamp out this horrific and barbaric practice and call 0800 028 3550 anonymously if you have suspicions that a child may be at risk of FGM.
Further information from the NSPCC
Read their official FGM helpline press release
Read their current FGM awareness briefing for more information.
Read more about their work protecting minority ethnic children
