Charity warns of FGM 'parties' taking place in England.
'Girls are being taken to female genital mutilation (FGM) "parties" in cities across England,
a charity has warned.
The Black Health Initiative in Leeds says midwives from Africa are being flown into the country
to carry out the illegal practice.
West Yorkshire Police said they were aware girls were being subjected to FGM locally.
Latest NHS figures show more than 8,000 women across England have recently been identified
as being victims of FGM.
FGM is an illegal practice in the UK and carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail. It is defined by
the World Health Organization (WHO) as the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia,
for non medical reasons.
Heather Nelson, Chief Executive of the Black Health Initiative, said: "We know of parties happening
here in England, and in West Yorkshire we recently had to break one up, and we've stopped another
from taking place.
"What we're finding now is that where once girls were taken abroad to be cut, specialist midwives
are now flown over and several girls are cut at the same time, which then leads to a celebration."...'
BBC SOURCE:
'Girls are being taken to female genital mutilation (FGM) "parties" in cities across England,
a charity has warned.
The Black Health Initiative in Leeds says midwives from Africa are being flown into the country
to carry out the illegal practice.
West Yorkshire Police said they were aware girls were being subjected to FGM locally.
Latest NHS figures show more than 8,000 women across England have recently been identified
as being victims of FGM.
FGM is an illegal practice in the UK and carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail. It is defined by
the World Health Organization (WHO) as the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia,
for non medical reasons.
Heather Nelson, Chief Executive of the Black Health Initiative, said: "We know of parties happening
here in England, and in West Yorkshire we recently had to break one up, and we've stopped another
from taking place.
"What we're finding now is that where once girls were taken abroad to be cut, specialist midwives
are now flown over and several girls are cut at the same time, which then leads to a celebration."...'
BBC SOURCE:
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.