Female Genital Mutilation
Last summer the Government Equalities Office (GEO) published a factsheet about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which we sent to frontline safeguarding and education professionals. GEO developed the factsheet in partnership with the Department of Health and the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).
The factsheet aims to raise awareness about FGM and thus help prevent this illegal and cruel practice. It explains what FGM is, who is most likely to be affected by it and why some communities wrongly justify this practice. It also provides guidance on how to identify those at risk and where to find information, services and useful organisations.
The factsheet was launched at the end of June by the Minster for Women and Equality, Maria Eagle MP just before the start of the school summer holidays.
Maria Eagle said:
“Violence against women and girls is totally unacceptable. The Government is determined to tackle it, in all its forms. Female Genital Mutilation is a cruel practice, with devastating physical and psychological effects."
“It has been banned in this country for nearly 25 years but in 2003 this Government went further and introduced legislation that made it illegal to take girls who are British nationals or permanent residents of the UK abroad to undergo this procedure. But we must continue to work together to protect the welfare of young girls.”
It was disseminated to schools via a DCSF newsletter. The factsheet was launched just before the holidays in order to highlight that this is a time when girls are at particular risk of being taken overseas to undergo FGM.
We have had a very positive response and have therefore decided to disseminate the factshteet for a second time.
I hope that you will find the factsheet useful and that you will highlight it to your colleagues and key partners. We would welcome its dissemination across relevant agencies (health, safeguarding, education, police) and hope that it will be a valuable tool in raising awareness about FGM.
For further information please find the PDF linked at the bottom of this page
Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
A national charity committed to reducing the number of children and young people who are killed, disabled or seriously injured as a result of accidents.
Carrying babies safely in cars
Guidance for practitioners who support expectant and new parents, this guide has been written to help practitioners who support expectant and new parents to learn more about carrying babies safely in cars. Midwives, health visitors and those who work with them are respected advisers in the eyes of parents and they are the main audiences for this guide. However, it will also be valuable to others in positions to give advice to expectant and new parents including people running ante-natal classes, child-minders and family support staff. Although written for a non-specialist audience, the guide may also act as a useful quick reference guide for local authority road safety officers in their work with practitioners who support expectant and new parents.
Domestic Violence
This link will take you to information on local domestic violence services.
