How to win the war against FGM in Britain

Dr Farah Nadeem, a Practitioner Psychologist Doctor, on what needs to be done to create significant and lasting change

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been illegal in the UK since 1985 and is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. But the World Health Organisation reports that approximately 137,000 women and girls here have been victims of the practice, the vast majority having undergone FGM abroad but who now live in the UK and face the ongoing consequences of this procedure.

Yet, despite this shocking figure, there is still no specific psychological treatment for survivors. This is concerning, and why the reality of FGM practice, its prevalence, its hidden nature and a lack of consequent suitable psychological treatment has motivated me to spend five years researching the topic and focusing on treatment procedures and ways to work with the psychological aftermath of FGM.

My book A Practitioner’s Guide to Treating Female Genital Mutilation uncovered and highlights a significant and concerning gaps in understanding about the topic within the UK socially, in public services and in my profession. As a state of affairs, this is not acceptable and cannot continue.

So how can we make a change in the UK, and what is it that needs to be done to create significant change for the victims of these atrocious acts?

There is an obvious need for the UK government and policy makers to invest in developing appropriate treatments for survivors. To date this simply does not exist.

Therapists working with survivors of FGM instead draw on their more generic psychological treatments - but there is a severe lack of specially tailored treatments and services.

That these have not been developed, as well as the intensely personal nature of the problem, may explain the barriers my research and work uncovered. These include FGM survivors disengagement with treatment or being fearful to talk through their pain, along with the stigma psychological therapies carry in their communities.

My aim is to now raise awareness and mobilise policy makers and the therapy profession to make therapy more accessible for survivors. Building on my research and publication, I am in the process of developing a charity that will work on developing delivery of evidence based psychological treatment.

Focus needs to be placed on the survivor’s traumatic experiences, with a high number of survivors suffering from PTSD, complex trauma and other psychological difficulties.

The UK government has had a recent role regarding survivors of FGM by raising awareness, educating health professionals, providing training and information - and there has been for the first time a successful prosecution in the UK: of a parent whose three-year-old daughter underwent FGM. This is noteworthy and encouraging.

Let us now focus on the survivors here in the UK who have received no support regarding their FGM and who struggle to have their voice heard. As a practising therapist, my work with those who have experienced FGM and its impact has informed my research and clinical practice and continues to do so.

My plans aim to continue the process of establishing a specific psychological treatment that is accessible and free to survivors in the UK. It is imperative that this change takes place to help the women and girls whose lives have been so blighted by this barbaric practice.

Dr Farah Nadeem Is a Practitioner Psychologist Doctor, associate lecturer and author of A Practitioner’s Guide to Treating Female Genital Mutilation.