4 Safeguarding at-risk girls
15. Professor Mathers of the Royal College of General
Practitioners told us that, as a result of the increased focus
on FGM, the College had introduced an e-module on FGM, which doctors
could use as part of their continuing professional development.
Work was also being done to improve the collection of data on
the prevalence of FGM.[16]
Alimatu Dimonekene told us that a large number of Clinical Commissioning
Groups (CCGs) were now asking for GPs to have some form of FGM
training. She suggested that this training, and guidance that
was published in October last year, was having an impact, as there
seemed to be a greater understanding of FGM among GPs.[17]
16. Leyla Hussein told us that all professionals,
not just doctors, required much more FGM training, and was disappointed
that mandatory training for those who work with women and children
had not been an outcome of the Girl Summit. She thought that FGM
training could easily be part of their child protection training
and would meet a particular need of professionals who were seeking
help to know what signs to look out for and what action to take.
This would relieve some of the burden from FGM campaigners, and
would also spread awareness of FGM more easily around the country.[18]
Alimatu Dimonekene noted that it was important to involve teachers
and schools, arguing that "with having teachers on board
… we can eradicate FGM in the UK". She thought that
both the time that teachers spent with young people, and the safe
space that schools could provide was of great importance.[19]
17. In addition to doctors and teachers, the police
have also made progress in their attempts to prevent FGM. Last
year, we welcomed the work of the Metropolitan Police Service,
Border Force and the National Crime Agency in jointly conducting
Operation Limelight, a proactive airside operation looking at
flights to and from countries where FGM is practised. Detective
Chief Superintendent Niven told us that intelligence from the
Operation suggested that it was deterring people from taking their
children abroad because they knew that they might get caught coming
back into the country.[20]
18. Doctors and health workers are in the front
line in the fight against FGM. We do not believe that enough is
being done by the Royal Colleges to encourage their members to
report cases of FGM. Given the recent prosecution there may be
an even greater reluctance to do so, however, we consider that
it is imperative that the Royal College of GPs inform every single
doctor about this practice and give them an indication of where
adequate training can be provided.
16 Q86 and 89 Back
17
Q37 Back
18
Q2 Back
19
Q40 Back
20
Q69 Back
|
