Spotlighting Dangerous and Illegal Female Genital Mutilation

Crimestoppers has launched a new campaign aimed at improving people’s understanding of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and encouraging those with information to pass on what they know to them 100%. anonymously.

FGM is illegal in the UK. It is a form of child abuse. It is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed. There's no medical reason or justification for this procedure, which often results in life-changing physical and mental health problems.

Between April 2015 and March 2020, the Female Genital Mutilation Enhanced Dataset by NHS Digital identified that at least 24,420 women and girls living in the UK have had the procedure. Whilst evidence is incomplete, most professionals agree that FGM, a form of child abuse, is happening to girls and women who live in the UK. 

FGM is also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. There is no religious reason to have this done. Many men are choosing to speak up against these crimes, including religious leaders who have said that FGM is 'haram', or forbidden by Islamic law.

As the issue is more cultural, we are reaching out to everyone, including men and young people, as this form of abuse can only be stopped if we all work together to support a change.