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FBI meets with Croydon Council to learn from council’s FGM protection strategies (13 February 2017)

Date: 13/02/2017
Duncan Lewis, Family Solicitors, FBI meets with Croydon Council to learn from council’s FGM protection strategies

Members of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have met with Croydon Council’s Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) project team to learn from their work on protecting girls at risk of FGM, as well as improving the psychological and physical health outcomes for those who have been affected.

The council says the FBI – the domestic intelligence and security service of the US – was keen to discover more about the pioneering project; and how the learning from Croydon could be implemented to help women and families who might be affected in America.

In Croydon, there are an estimated 3,480 females who have been affected by FGM at some point in their lives – equivalent to one in 104 females. It is estimated that 3% of women who give birth in Croydon are affected by FGM – around 200 births annually.

Since its inception, the project has already seen a high increase in referrals for children assessed as at risk of FGM – most from one of more than 1,500 professionals from Health, Local Authority, Police and the Voluntary Sector, who have already been trained in FGM, risk assessment, identification and management of FGM, local referral pathways and procedures.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Justice and a supporter of FGM work in Croydon, Councillor Hamida Ali, said:

“I’m delighted to see the hard work we have put in to build the cross-agency network recognised in this way – hopefully, our learning can support American efforts to protect and support women and girls at risk of FGM.”

Beth Kelly – FGM Project Consultant – made a presentation to the FBI representatives and spoke about the project which has seen her bring together professionals from across the public and charity sectors in Croydon.

“Our biggest concern is always to make sure women and girls in the borough are able to access the care and support they need,” said Ms Kelly.

“ We’ve done this by bringing together an overarching strategy across the borough’s many agencies, from the NHS to the council, the police to the voluntary sector.

“In particular, we know what an essential role community members and service users have played in both the set up of the project – and in our continued work to reach out and improve local services and understanding.”


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