13 years for first FGM conviction
The first conviction of female genital mutilation (FGM) has resulted in a 13 year jail sentence for the child’s mother.
The first conviction of female genital mutilation (FGM) has resulted in a 13 year jail sentence for the child’s mother. This comes more than 15 years after the enactment of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 and 33 years after the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985, which first made the practice illegal.
Despite allegations of FGM rising almost fivefold in recent years, prosecutions for this form of child abuse have been unsuccessful up till now - largely as a result of difficulties in obtaining sufficient proof.
The DfE have issued various statutory and non-statutory guidance for multi-agencies, resource packs on FGM and made express reference to the duty on teachers to report suspected FGM in Keeping Children Safe. In addition, draft statutory guidance on the new sex and relationships education regulations includes references to teaching secondary age pupils about the illegality of FGM and availability of support.
As a result of schools and other agencies sharing information with the police, hundreds of FGM protection orders have been issued. It may have taken decades, but hopefully this first conviction and the raft of other preventative measures will combat this horrific practice and protect children at risk.
Contact
.jpg?variant=HeroImageTabletVariantDefinition)
Hayley O'Sullivan
Senior Associate
hayley.o'sullivan@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)121 237 3994
Related expertise
You may be interested in...
In Person Event
Child Protection in Education 2023 - London
In Person Event
Child Protection in Education 2023 - Manchester
Online Event
'School staffing restructures: practical guidance for implementing organisational change' webinar
Online Event
HR Forum - June 2023
Legal Update
Changes to Exclusions Guidance for September 2023
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public Matters - May 2023
Legal Update
School staffing restructures: what you need to know
In Person Event
Optimus Education HR Update 2023
On-Demand
Best practice complaints management for schools and academy trusts
Legal Update
AB vs Worcestershire County Council and Birmingham City Council
In Person Event
Optimus Education MATs Summit 2023
In Person Event
Optimus Education: driving an efficient and sustainable trust - London
In Person Event
Optimus Education: driving an efficient and sustainable trust - Manchester
Legal Update
Retirement housing: A solution to our care and housing crises?
Legal Update
Vicarious liability – don’t overlook the importance of close connection
Legal Update
Be Connected (Schools) - May 2023
Legal Update
School Leaders Survey – help build sector insight
Guide
FAQs – academy re-brokerage
Guide
Consultation advice for multi-academy trusts (MATs)
Legal Update
RSHE – ready for a review?
Legal Update
Government guidance on trans-pupils imminent
Legal Update
How multi-academy trusts are involved in school inspections
Legal Update
Detailing safeguarding information in references- the outcome of Smith v Surridge and others
Opinion
Pay deal reached for Agenda for Change employees
Online Event
Shared Insights
Legal Update
DfE statistics on suspensions and exclusions published
Opinion
Injunction means nurses’ strike will be cut short
Published Article
Supporting employees with mental health issues
On-Demand
Unpacking the Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - April 2023
Legal Update
The Academies regulatory review and School complaints
Opinion - Maternity services
Racial disparities in maternity care
Legal Update
Industrial action update: school strikes
Opinion
Further industrial action announced as RCN reject pay deal
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - March 2023
On-Demand
Flexible working in schools webinar
Legal Update
The Online Safety Bill – what does it mean for schools?
In Person Event
MAT Development roadshows
Legal Update
Supreme Court will hear Worcestershire case on local authority responsibility for Section 117 Aftercare in April 2023
