{"id":56414,"date":"2020-12-18T08:39:43","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T08:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=56414"},"modified":"2020-12-18T10:03:39","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T10:03:39","slug":"the-impact-of-fgm-safeguarding-guidelines-on-somali-women-living-in-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2020\/12\/18\/the-impact-of-fgm-safeguarding-guidelines-on-somali-women-living-in-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"The impact of FGM safeguarding guidelines on Somali women living in Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Welsh government&#8217;s safeguarding guidelines around female genital mutilation are being accused of targeting Somali women and FGM survivors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Alt Cardiff\" class=\"wp-image-56427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Alt Cardiff\" class=\"wp-image-56427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/feature-image-1-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Women who had FGM as children are facing renewed trauma because safeguarding guidelines force them to tell their doctor<br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-black-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background\">A woman who has experienced first-hand the invasive procedure of female genital mutilation (FGM) would never dream of inflicting that pain on anyone, let alone her own child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.safeguarding.wales\/chi\/c6\/c6.p2.html?highlight=fgm\"> safeguarding guidelines<\/a> in Wales state that because she is a survivor of FGM, her child is automatically considered at risk and can be referred to social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Welsh government&#8217;s latest<a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/violence-against-women-domestic-abuse-and-sexual-violence-national-advisers-annual-plan-2021-2022-html\"> policy report<\/a> on violence against women, it said the pandemic had exacerbated the risk of domestic and sexual abuse for many people and as FGM is classed as gender-based violence, it is also considered to be on the rise because of lockdown conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to these concerns, in September, Welsh government circulated<a href=\"https:\/\/hwb.gov.wales\/api\/storage\/e782947e-97ef-420d-9bc8-7ffad1564fcd\/41170_FGM_factsheet_Teachers_E.pdf\"> a fact sheet<\/a> for teachers containing warning signs that indicate when a child is at risk of FGM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what is not included in these conversations is how government-issued safeguarding guidelines and &#8216;warning signs&#8217; cause harm to communities they say they are trying to protect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch our video to learn more about FGM<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mZjTqF9pOX0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mZjTqF9pOX0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do the numbers lie?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wales.nhs.uk\/sitesplus\/documents\/888\/FGM%20Annual%20report%202017-18%20Final.pdf\"> most recent statistics<\/a> on FGM in Wales tell us that in 2018 Cardiff and the Vale Health Board had the most \u201cnewly recorded cases\u201d with 271 and that FGM is most prevalent in the Somali community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But charities such as<a href=\"https:\/\/hiddenvoicesuk.co.uk\/\"> Hidden Voices UK<\/a>, who have a branch in Cardiff and work with FGM survivors, say these statistics are not only out of date but are misleading because FGM is no longer practiced in that community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zainab Nur, co-founder and manager of the branch, said the statistics included older women who had FGM when they were children and therefore, the &#8220;newly recorded&#8221; cases were actually historical cases that did not take place in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is a generation of girls who never had FGM because we made changes to prevent it,&#8221; she said, &#8220;it\u2019s a diminished practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffwomensaid.org.uk\/\">Cardiff Women\u2019s Aid<\/a> has also said any new referrals it gets for FGM are usually older women who had it years ago and are dealing with the after affects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Zainab regularly deals with cases where innocent Somali women are referred to social services based on what she believes are discriminatory safeguarding guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hidden Voices UK&#8217;s latest video discusses the impact of FGM laws on African communities <\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TWaqoZ2EqT4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TWaqoZ2EqT4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treated like criminals<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Two guidelines are being disputed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first states if a parent or relative plans to take a child out of the country or if a child talks about visiting their family\u2019s country of origin where FGM is historically practiced, they are considered at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The other is if a woman had FGM in the past, her child is also considered at risk, and in both cases, the family may be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You would never ask somebody if they had been sexually abused and assume that would happen to their child just because it happened to them<\/p><cite>Zainab Nur <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The guidelines are accused of targeting the Somali community and demonising survivors of FGM for something that happened to them as non-consenting children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese women have been traumatised,\u201d Zainab said, \u201cyou would never ask somebody if they had been sexually abused and assume that would happen to their child just because it happened to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Alt Cardiff\" class=\"wp-image-56428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Alt Cardiff\" class=\"wp-image-56428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/united.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Hidden Voices UK argue the voices of Somali families and FGM survivors are being ignored in this debate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another young Somali woman living in Cardiff, who we are calling Sana, said she had a negative experience with safeguarding guidelines in her own family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sana\u2019s relatives told their doctor about plans to take their children on holiday to Somali Land to visit family, and it resulted in an investigation by social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a casual conversation, but the trigger words were \u2018I\u2019m going back home,\u2019\u201d she said, \u201cthat\u2019s all it took for suspicions to be raised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doctors are obliged by law to report anything that may be considered a risk indicator, but Sana said these indicators need updating if women are being placed under suspicion with no credible evidence other than the fact their family is from a particular country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The guidelines in question are published by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safeguarding.wales\/\">Wales Safeguarding Procedures<\/a> but, they are a product of a <a href=\"\/Users\/harri\/Downloads\/Female-Genital-Mutilation%20(1).pdf\">2011 report <\/a>by the All-Wales Child Protection Procedures Review Group, a board of healthcare professionals that both Sana and Zainab believe do not represent their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>If the approach stigmatises some when it\u2019s trying to protect others, then is it really operating in the right way?<\/p><cite>sana<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Welsh government says there are steps to reduce inappropriate reporting with statutory guidance on how social services should respond to reports that a child is at risk of FGM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guidance also states any risk factors must be considered in the wider context and not seen as evidence that FGM has taken or will take place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Waste of resources<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bawso.org.uk\/\">Bawso<\/a>, an FGM charity that works closely with Welsh government, advises in its <a href=\"\/Users\/harri\/Downloads\/FGM-and-Human-Right%20BAWSO.pdf\">resource pack <\/a>that although professionals should be sensitive to issues of culture and race they should not let fears of being branded \u2018racist\u2019 or \u2018discriminatory\u2019 weaken the protection required by vulnerable girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, despite all these efforts, Zainab said inappropriate reporting is still taking place and is wasting social services\u2019 time and money.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sana agreed and said, \u201cI want to stop FGM, and I would be the first person to report a case if I saw it. But, if this approach stigmatises some when it\u2019s trying to protect others, then is it really operating in the right way?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1500x750.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/end-fgm.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>There are fears the resources of social services are being wasted on dead end referrals which are preventing new FGM survivors from getting help <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Women who have experienced the pain of FGM understand it better than anyone and would be the first to say it should be stopped.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the guidelines tell them they are not trusted with their own children because they were violated when they were their age and because their family is from a particular country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important things to understand here is all parties have the common goal of ending FGM, but this is not going to happen if the voices of survivors and the affected community continue to be ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">The law surrounding FGM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:28% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"774\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-774x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56453 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-774x1024.jpg 774w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-770x1019.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-580x768.jpg 580w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-370x490.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-585x775.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-293x388.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law.jpg 816w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 774px) 100vw, 774px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"774\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-774x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56453 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-774x1024.jpg 774w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-770x1019.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-580x768.jpg 580w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-370x490.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-585x775.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law-293x388.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2020\/12\/law.jpg 816w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 774px) 100vw, 774px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Female genital mutilation became a criminal offence in the UK in 1985 with the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was replaced in 2003 with the Female Genital Mutilation Act which stated it was also an offence to take a child abroad for FGM and the maximum penalty increased from five to 14 years of imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nobody was convicted of FGM until 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welsh government&#8217;s safeguarding guidelines around female genital mutilation are being accused of targeting Somali women and FGM survivors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":525,"featured_media":56427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087],"tags":[7286,1789,4401,7287,1391,325],"coauthors":[7094],"class_list":["post-56414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","tag-fgm","tag-racism","tag-sexual-violence","tag-survivors","tag-violence-against-women","tag-welsh-government"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The impact of FGM safeguarding guidelines on Somali women in Wales<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Welsh government&#039;s safeguarding guidelines around female genital mutilation are being 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