FGM
‘It is child
abuse’
“FGM is child abuse, full
stop.” That is the powerful
message being sent out
as awareness is raised
in local schools about
female genital mutilation,
reports Jack Butler.
P
erivale Primary School
has been leading the way
locally, with children, parents
and staff all taking part in
safeguarding lessons put on by Ealing
Council. Their importance has been
recognised by the John Lyons charity,
which has now provided funding to
help the council put on sessions
in another six schools across
the borough.
According to estimates by
City University, in England
there are 137,000 girls and
women living with FGM, and
144,000 girls at risk of it.
It is believed one reason
FGM is practised in
the UK is people
not knowing
that it is
illegal in this
country.
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been illegal since 1985 and, if a child is
suspected to be at risk, the authorities
can intervene.
The safeguarding sessions at
Perivale Primary are led by Hoda Ali,
who was employed from the NHS to
take on this role, which was funded
for three years with money granted by
John Lyons. She is a FGM survivor. In
the l