Talking About Female Genital Mutilation: A Guide to Safeguarding for Professionals who Work with Children

Description

This workbook is designed to be used to facilitate discussion and disseminate awareness amongst all professionals (social workers, teachers and health care professionals) who are required by law to report instances of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Suitable for use in group settings, it requires no prior knowledge of the subject, but is written in such a way for anyone to be able to facilitate a session with colleagues, which takes between one to three hours depending on the facilitator and group’s needs. Divided into five chapters, it shows how to facilitate a training session using the material, including being aware of how people may be triggered by this difficult subject. Providing activities to facilitate discussion, it explains terminology and provides explanation of different types of FGM, risk factors and legal aspects including mandatory reporting in certain regions. Designed to be concise, it will give busy professionals a quick and effective tool to disseminate information to as many colleagues as possible to allow them to develop understanding of a legal requirement of their job which has real and life-saving benefits for children. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents List of Figure, Boxes and Tables List of Abbreviations Author’s Note Acknowledgements Introduction Using This Workbook Facilitating Group Work Participant Well-Being 1. What Is FGM? FGM – What Do Those Letters Mean? What Exactly Is the Practice of FGM? Four Types of FGM Type 1 (Clitoridectomy) Type 2 (Excision) Type 3 (Infibulation) De-infibulation Medical De-infibulation Re-infibulation Type 4 (Other) What if No Physical Harm Is Caused? What about the ‘Designer Vagina’? Who Carries Out FGM? ‘Medicalised’ FGM Appendices Bibliography 2. Why Is FGM Carried Out? Belief Systems – Religion Belief System – Spirituality Impact of a Lack of Educational Opportunity Psychosexual Economic Factors Hygiene and Aesthetic Reasons Sociological and Cultural Reasons The Initiation Process To Ensure Subservience Bibliography 3. How FGM Affects Girls and Women Impact on Society Impact on Girls and Women Building a Picture A Note on a Change in Behaviour The Impact of Trauma What the Effects of Trauma Might Look like Trauma-Informed Practice Bibliography 4. When We Have Concerns about a Girl’s Risk of FGM Context of FGM Prevalence and Timing Legislation – The International Context National Legislation The Law around FGM and Certain Professionals’ Duty When We Start to Be Worried Direct Disclosures When There Is No Direct Disclosure Is a Girl Imminently at Risk? Being Professionally Curious What Are You Worried About and Why? What Kind of Information Do You Have? Gathering Information to Pass onto Social Work Professionals Clarity in Our Language and Understanding Putting Information into Context Information Gathering (for Social Work Professionals) Speaking to Families about Concerns Case Closure Appendices Bibliography 5. Towards a Future Without Cutting What Is Happening Internationally to End FGM? FGM Ribbon Legislation What Is Happening Regionally to End FGM? Engaging Community Influencers Educating Cutters and Providing Alternative Income Working with Men and Boys Working with Health Care Professionals Alternative Rites of Passage What Can Individuals Do to End FGM? In a Professional Role Educate Raising Awareness Offering Advice, Support and Guidance Including Communities and Survivors in Conversation As an Individual Using the Arts to Raise Awareness Conversations and Book Clubs Engaging with Social Media Campaigns Donating and Supporting Campaigners As a Survivor Community Champions Appendices Help and Resources Bibliography Glossary Index