If you have been the victim of female genital mutilation known as FGM or female circumcision in the UK – you may be entitled to compensation.
Female genital mutilation or FGM as it is commonly known, is a description given to a circumcision or cutting procedure carried out by custom and for cultural or religious reasons to young girls between the age of infancy to 15 years old.
This is not a surgical procedure but usually one that is carried out by non-clinical specialists in unsafe unhygienic conditions. It is also a completely unnecessary procedure and one that is outlawed in most parts of the world.
There are many other terms for female genital mutilation such as: cutting; sunna; sunnah; gudniin; halalays to name a few.
Anyone who has been the victim of FGM has the right to claim compensation - this is an illegal practice and considered a form of child abuse. There are a number of possible ways to make a claim: it is possible to claim via a government agency called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) or to sue a medical professional or organisation who carry out the procedure.
To claim from the CICA you must:
Your compensation can help with corrective surgery and treatment to help in the aftermath of such a procedure. you do not need to suffer alone without help.
Please read this page about obtaining a protection order to immediately seek help with your situation. Be aware this will need involve the police.
Contact us today for a NO OBLIGATION discussion about your case on: 01423 593002 or visit our contact page to complete a web enquiry form.
The Law
In the UK FGM is illegal.
The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 made such practice an offence but as many victims never seek medical attention or go to the police, the majority of cases of FGM go undiscovered and unreported. However in 2015 an important change to the law by way of the Serious Crime Act 2015 made it a duty for certain professionals to report incidents of mutilation that they encounter. So for example doctors or other health professionals now must report any cases they become aware of to the authorities. Failure to do so could lead them to be investigated by their regulatory bodies.
It is extremely difficult to control a practice that is largely hidden and steeped in custom or tradition. But those involved in perpetrating such acts must be aware that in the UK they will be prosecuted if they are caught carrying out this procedure.
Prosecution cases in the UK:
More here about how the Crown Prosecution Service (cps) handle FGM cases in the UK.
Between April 2015 and December 2017 15,390 patients with FGM were treated by the NHS. We do not know how many such cases were reported to the police. However we can say that very few cases were successfully prosecuted. This is a huge issue for both the NHS and the justice system.
The four main types of FGM
There are thought to be around 4 main procedures for female circumcision.
Read about one young Africans journey in escaping the threat of FGM
Useful organisations who can assist victims
Forward UK (Charity) - https://forwarduk.org.uk/
NHS safeguarding - https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/safeguarding/our-work/fgm/
28 Too Many (Charity) - https://www.28toomany.org/
Plan International UK (Charity) https://plan-uk.org/about/our-work/fgm