Scotland to hold conference on female genital mutilation
A conference raising awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM) will be hosted in Edinburgh next week examining how Scotland is affected by this global phenomenon.
The event, hosted by the Women’s Support Project, will mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
According to a 2011 census up to 23,979 people living in Scotland have been potentially affected by FGM as they were born in a country where this is practiced. Notably, this does not mean that their families necessarily practice FGM but that the women were still subjected to the procedure in their upbringing. FGM has been illegal in Scotland since 2005.
The Scottish Refugee Council and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine predicted in 2014 that a minimum of approximately 700 children born into Scottish communities might be affected by FGM as they were born to mothers from an FGM-practicing country.
Jan MacLeod from the Women’s Support Project said: “This event is part of ongoing work to raise awareness of FGM as an issue which may affect women and girls in Scotland.
“This particular event will offer short presentations on positive interventions which have been developed to improve service responses.
“We also hope that it will be an opportunity for networking and building contacts between different services and sectors.”
She added: “We have been approached by women for support and information on issues around FGM care and treatment, as well as in relation to asylum claims where women are concerned about the safety of their daughter if returned to their home country.”
The Women’s Support Project has worked along FGM survivors including for the production of the film Sara’s Story which can be seen on the FGM Aware website. The Project created the website as one of its efforts to raise awareness of FGM. (See Below)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXYl8IkRRq8&w=560&h=315]
Ms. MacLeod said: “All pregnant women should be routinely asked about FGM, and midwives, health visitors and childcare workers also need to be aware of the possibility and confident to raise this issue with women and families.
“There are now a number of community organisations working to raise awareness and prevent FGM within their communities.” The Kenyan Women in Scotland Association is an example of these.
The FGM awareness event will take place on 4 February at 1.30-4.00pm at the COSLA Conference Centre in Edinburgh. For more information on how FGM affects women in Scotland visit www.fgmaware.org.
