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The Presence of FGM in Europe

An increase in immigration for individuals form countries which practice FGM in recent years has led to the introduction of FGM in European and North American societies. However, difficulties are presented attempting to qualify the amount of women who have undergone FGM and migrated. The totality of these women include traditional immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and illegal immigrant. Furthermore, statistics and data are inconclusive due to the fact that the migration of immigrants from these countries does not include the girls at risk of FGM in Europe. This being said all figures given on the issue can be seen as rough estimates.

In a case study which investigated the FC in groups of migrant women from Northern Africa to European countries like Scandinavia the author Elgaali noted that a majority of these women had been circumcised before their migration to Europe. When these women become pregnant they experience various complications during pregnancy, childbirth ,and the postpartum period. The health care professionals placed in the care of these women are often in not well versed in the treatment of women who have undergone FGM. The introduction of these women into the field of obstetrics and midwifery has brought about a new type of treatment that address the complications and anatomical deformity that some health care professional have yet to receive adequate training in.

The introduction of a new kind of patient calls for the proper health care training to aid individual like these women through the delivery process. Obstacles present in women of FGM alone during child birth require health care professionals who possess some form of familiarity with the overall procedure of FGM and the treatments to remedy the difficulties presented with childbirth. Complications common to child birth of one who has undergone FGM is extreme pain, anxiety, and fear. Furthermore the inability of infibulated to give birth naturally due to the presence of scar tissue the vaginal area blocking the natural passage of an infant. Other complications, such as third degree tears, incontinence of urine and stool, hemorrhaging, vaginal atresia and maternal or fetal death.(lundberg) Due to these risk women who have undergone FGM are placed in a category beside high risk births (7) Elgaali noted that some Eritrean women mentioned that when provided with a midwifes who were aware of the of the proper care techniques to provide patients with FGM, there overall atmosphere and labor experience was safe and pleasant compared to childbirth experienced in their country of origin. (7) The migration of women who undergone FGM has placed pressure on European health care professional; specifically those of Obstetrics and Gynecology in recent years. The diversification of the patients’ calls for doctors and nurses who are appropriately trained in the care, understanding, experience, and sensitivity for the proper treatment to be provided.

Leye notes that several European countries have made modifications to their current healthcare systems to accommodate the increasing number of patients who have received FGM. Since June 2000, technical guides have been provided which outline the delivery procedures for infibulated women. These guides have been made available in various languages and serve to aid health care providers in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care. (6) In Demark holds a large amount of immigrant from countries in which FGM holds traditional and cultural relevance. In 2000, it was estimated the 14,500 Somalian immigrants resides in the country.(6) The national Board of Health in Demark has also provided literature to health professionals informing them of the FGM and how professionals should address the situation with sensitivity. Moreover, midwifes specializing in FGM have been made available in some areas of Europe. These facilities include the Frederiksberg Hospital, which deals specifically with infibulated women. (6) Health care facilities catering specifically to the needs of women experiencing FGM related issues can also be in the United Kingdom; such as the African Well Women Clinics (AWWC).(6)

Though women whom have received FGM prior to their arrival in European countries, they account for a large percentage of the population of migrant women from countries where this practice is common. It also has been established that African communities living in European countries continue the practice of FGM on their daughters whom either immigrated to Europe with their parents or are first generation European children. (6) Leye notes that parents are sending their daughters back to Africa by inviting circumcisers to the West to perform the procedure, or literally sending their daughters back to their country of origin to receive the procedure. (6) According to a census conducted by Lundberg girls whom received this procedure from traditional circumcisers, they are at risk serious complications though they depending on the individual. Postpartum complications include hospitalization due to infected wounds as result of incorrect incisions or the use of unsterile instruments or environment. (6) Nevertheless there is evidence that FGM has been performed illegally in at least three European countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Switzerland, by medically qualified personnel or by traditional circumcisers. (6) Other European countries such as Belgium, Demark and Spain are equally suspected. The possibility of such severe complications when FGM is performed incorrectly provide an overwhelming amount of pressure on European health care professionals who possess the ability to safely perform the procedure with little to no complications. However, this introduces moral and legal limitations at are often tempted by large financial incentives and the large supply of traditional circumcisers willing to perform FGM upon request. Doctors also are also burdened with the Hippocratic Oath taken upon arrival into the medical field in which they swore to do no harm. (6)

3 Paragrappgh of " Law in Non-practicing Countries"

Black’s 1995 article notes the initial increased migration of ethnic groups who practice FGM into Britain. These groups being from Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen. The author goes on to note that even then FGM was illegally practiced in Britain by both qualified and unqualified practitioners. (black) The act states that it is illegal to "excise, infibulate, or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of another person" or "to aid, abet, or procure the performance by another person of any of these acts on that other person's own body." Furthermore , that any person found guilty of this offence is liable to be fined or imprisoned for up to five years, or to both, if convicted, or on summary conviction in a magistrate's court to a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or to both.(1)

In general terms, when faced with the argument that the government was placing sanctions on religious and cultural practices, the British government framed its response to FGM within the area of the protection of children, since FGMs mainly is performed on children who are unable to give consent. Some health care professionals choose to argue that FGM is not conventional child abuse. Moreover, that the parents who put their children through this procedure truly believe that they are doing the right thing, and that they are forming this conclusion based on 600 years of tradition. Therefore this prevention of this practice should be addressed through education rather than prosecution. (5) In term of the enforcement of the Prohibition Act of 1985, no arrests have be made in Britain. However, two physicians were removed from the General Medical Council one in 1993 and another in 2000. (5)

The number of FGMs practiced in France is lower than in the United Kingdom, at least 30,000 African women and girls living in France have been exposed to these practices compared the United Kingdom at 74,000. (5) According to Guine’s 2007 article, France is currently the only country in Europe to have actively used its judicial system as a method to aid in the elimination of FGM. France prosecutes both the families and the health care officials. The country has had more than twenty trials since the beginning of the 1980s, even though it does not have any specific laws prohibiting FGM practices. Like the United Kingdom, France approached FGM under the justification that the prosecution served in the protection of children. (5) FGM cases were trialed under Article 312 of the penal code, which states that any voluntary assault or injury of children younger than fifteen and resulting in permanent disability, unintentional death, or mutilation could be punished by ten to twenty years in prison. Also in France of 1989 a law was passed that required professionals to report any violence carried out on minors younger than fifteen. (5)

At The End

FGM has been illegal in Britain since 1985, by the establishment of the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act of 1985. Black’s 1995 article notes the initial increased migration of ethnic groups who practice FGM into Britain. These groups being from Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen. The author goes on to note that even then FGM was illegally practiced in Britain by both qualified and unqualified practitioners. The act states that it is illegal to "excise, infibulate, or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of another person" or "to aid, abet, or procure the performance by another person of any of these acts on that other person's own body." Furthermore , that any person found guilty of this offence is liable to be fined or imprisoned for up to five years, or to both, if convicted, or on summary conviction in a magistrate's court to a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or to both.(1)

In general terms, when faced with the argument that the government was placing sanctions on religious and cultural practices, the British government framed its response to FGM within the area of the protection of children, since FGMs mainly is performed on children who are unable to give consent. (5) Some health care professionals choose to argue that FGM is not conventional child abuse. Moreover, that the parents who put their children through this procedure truly believe that they are doing the right thing, and that they are forming this conclusion based on 600 years of tradition. Therefore this prevention of this practice should be addressed through education rather than prosecution. (5) In term of the enforcement of the Prohibition Act of 1985, no arrests have be made in Britain. However, two physicians were removed from the General Medical Council one in 1993 and another in 2000. (5)