So-called ‘honour-based violence’ (HBV) encompasses incidents or crimes which have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community, including FGM, forced marriage, and practices such as breast ironing.
It often involves a wider network or community pressure and can include multiple perpetrators.
A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal or the external genitalia or injury to the female organs.
Due to the physical and psychological consequences of FGM it is illegal in the UK. There are no cultural or medical justifications for it.
Pupils may talk about ‘cutting’/’circumcision’/’sunna’/’initiation’.
Teachers have a duty to personally notify the police if they discover that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18.
If you’re not a teacher, and are worried about a child, speak to the school’s DSL (or a deputy DSL) and follow the school’s procedures for reporting safeguarding concerns.
FGM materials: FGM Campaign Materials
Refuge charity: Honour-based Violence
National FGM Centre: National FGM Centre