Education and debate

Female genital mutilation in Britain

^a Victoria Mill House, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9EG, ^b Children's Services Unit, South Birmingham Health Authority, Birmingham

Correspondence to: Dr Black.

Much has been written about female genital mutilation in Africa, but little attention has been paid to its existence in Britain. Though it has been illegal in this country since 1985, it is practised secretly or children are sent abroad to have the operation. From the social worker's point of view it is technically a form of child abuse which poses special problems. Black and Debelle review the historical background of female genital mutilation and describe its medical complications. Gallard discusses the problem in France, and Walder considers why such mutilation still continues in Britain.

This article is concerned with female genital mutilation in Britain. The term is preferable to female circumcision, which is inaccurate and implies a minor operation equivalent to male circumcision. In many cultures the operation entails an extensive mutilation, with profound social, sexual, and medical . . . [Full text of this article]

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