A well known community paediatrician Dr Sudhir Sethi has launched a hard hitting film warning people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland about FGM, and urging them to alert authorities if they suspect a girl is likely to subjected to genital mutilation.
With the long summer holidays around the corner, many young girls will be taken abroad and forced to undergo the procedure, known as FGM or female circumcision. FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, hence many girls are taken out of the country, and they suffer a painful fate. Almost 10 % of FGM victims die as a result of the procedure and as many as one in four suffer recurrent problems. Effects of the procedure include severe pain and shock, broken limbs from being held down, infection, increased risk of HIV/AIDS, urine retention and fatal haemorrhaging.
FGM can also lead to uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections and cysts as well as infertility along with pregnancy and childbirth complications. It can also lead to longer term psychological problems and depression.
Dr Sudhir Sethi, told the Leicester Mercury: "We have sizeable communities here who may be at risk from FGM.
"From my perspective, it is the violation of the rights of a child to be protected from any form of torture, inhumane or degrading treatment."
He added: "The signs can be very subtle. The girl might simply say she is going on a long holiday, and might simply say there is going to be a great celebration or a special event – or she may say she is going and will return as a 'proper woman'. That's all we will get.
"If people act and protect one child, they will potentially be protecting many children in that child's family, community and extended family."
Anyone suspecting FGM can report it by contacting Leicestershire County Council on 0116 305 0005; Leicester City Council on 0116 454 1004 or Rutland Council on 01572 758407.
