Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member (Health and Adult Services) who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

Presentation by the Director of Public Health

The Committee considered a report and presentation from Councillor Gingell, Cabinet Member (Health and Adult Services) on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) in Coventry. Daniel Conteh and Virginia Ringane, Celsetineceleste Community Organisation attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The report provided an outline of what Female Genital Mutilation was; the legislation in relation to FMG; the implications of the practice on women and the outcomes for survivors; the prevalence of FMG and details of local actions so far. It also informed of the national recommendations to eliminate the practice of FMG and set out the local recommendations which were to be submitted to the Health and Well-being Board.

The presentation highlighted the prevalence of FMG in Coventry. UHCW midwifery had reported 34 women affected by FMG between April and August 2014. Data from West Midlands Police indicated that for 2014 to date there had been 84 referrals, 48 of which were from Coventry. Attention was drawn to the FMG conference to be held in Coventry on 13^th November, 2014.

The representatives from the Celestine Community Organisation, a group who provided support and education to those who were victims of or were at risk of FMG, informed of their current work and the attitudes towards FMG from different communities. The Committee placed on record their appreciation for their attendance at the meeting and for the work they undertook.

The Committee questioned the Cabinet Member, the officers and the community representatives on a number of issues and responses were provided. Matters raised included:

·  Cultural acceptance

·  The different roles of men and women within the African communities where FMG was practiced, both in supporting and challenging the practice

·  The difference between a medical model and a cultural or social model that could be used to address the issue

·  The barriers to schools for providing education programmes

·  The positive role that UHCW plays in identifying and reporting cases of FMG

·  The view of the United Nations

The report set out the following proposals for action:

a.  A multi-faceted awareness campaign is implemented targeting health, education, social care, voluntary sector, practising communities and other relevant professionals.

b.  Further partnership work between the Council, Coventry University and the Voluntary Sector to effectively engage with communities to ensure the Female Genital Mutilation campaign is successful

c.  The implementation of training programmes across Coventry for professionals and communities.

d.  Coventry should strive to prevent Female Genital Mutilation through Law Enforcement. Professionals and Communities need to continue to support the Police to enforce the law against parents / guardians who permit Female Genital Mutilation and the practitioners who carry it out and prevent women and girls being taken out of UK legal jurisdiction with the intention of carrying out Female Genital Mutilation.

e.  All suspected cases should continue to be referred as part of existing child safeguarding obligations. Information and support should be given to families to protect girls at risk. Better awareness of Female Genital Mutilation and the law amongst professionals should be implemented as part of a specialised training programme.

f.  If a child has already undergone Female Genital Mutilation she should be offered medical help, psychological support and counselling. Action should be taken to protect any female relatives who are at risk and to investigate possible risk to other children in the practicing community

g. Key stakeholders support UHCW in their work to offer women access to a specialist Female Genital Mutilation midwife or consultant through the provision of dedicated clinic time.

h. Community based clinics and primary and secondary care professionals should ask individuals if they have undergone Female Genital Mutilation or if themselves or members of their families are at risk.

i. Data gathered should be shared across all agencies to ensure Coventry has a clear as possible picture of the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Coventry. Share that information systematically: Develop protocols for sharing information about girls at risk of – or girls who have already undergone Female Genital Mutilation with other health and social care agencies, education and the police.

j. Implementation of a Project Manager.

The Committee noted that they would receive a progress update at a later date.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The proposals for action detailed above be supported and the Coventry Health and Well-being Board be recommended to accept these proposals.

(2) Consideration be given to alternative educational approaches for dealing with the issue of Female Genital Mutilation which will encourage local schools to engage in raising pupils’ awareness of FGM.