Thousands of young girls and women in the UK are at risk of female genital mutilation every year. Last month, a Sunday Times investigation revealed that undercover reporters had filmed a “respected dentist” and an “alternative medicine practitioner” offering to perform this operation right here in the UK. Since the article’s publication, there have been two arrests.
However, in London alone, police have received 166 complaints over the past four years, but not one has come to court. In fact, no one has ever been convicted of this assault in Britain. The reason? Authorities are turning a blind eye and refusing to commit the resources needed to stamp out this horrific problem.
A 17-year-old student is calling on Michael Gove to help end female genital mutilation in Britain by asking headteachers to train and inform teachers and parents about the horrors of the practice.
Fahma Mohamed is urging the education secretary to write to the leaders of all primary and secondary schools, urging them to flag up the dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM) before the summer holidays, when girls are at the greatest risk. An estimated 66,000 women and girls in the UK have been victims of FGM.
As the face of the Guardian's new campaign to have FGM recognised as a key government priority, Mohamed, one of nine daughters in a Muslim Somali family that came to Britain when she was seven, believes Gove could do more to help curtail the barbaric practice.
She adds her voice to a broad coalition of global charities and campaigners who have joined with the Guardian to urge Gove to act. Supporters can add their names to a petition on the Change.org campaigning website. "If every single headteacher was given the right information, we could reach every single girl who is at risk of FGM," said Fahma, from Bristol. "We could convince these families not to send their daughters abroad and help those girls at risk."
If you live in the UK please sign this petition.
Petition to Stop Female Genital Mutilation in the UK
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