Liverpool: Women Fight Back With Laws Backing

LIVERPOOL’S health officials have been pioneers against FGM locally and nationally.

In 1999 an advisory group was set up in partnership with the primary care trust (PCT) and the community.

It has organised conferences to raise awareness among professionals, with the last in October held in partnership with the NSPCC.

In 2003 the PCT appointed a Somali speaker to act as a link between the community and health care professionals.

Due to the sensitive nature of her work and the trust she has built within the community she did not want to be named.

She said: “We are building trust in Liverpool.

“The city has really been pioneering in its approach in dealing with this issue and are making massive inroads.

“Lots of young women are now booking themselves in for reversals, but still do not want their family to know.

“Years ago peer pressure was worse. But now young women have the backing of the law.

“If grandparents put pressure on them to have their own daughters circumcised they can say that they cannot do it as it is illegal.

“If caught they face 14 years in prison.

“We are there to support these women in making the right decision.

“This is not going to happen in Liverpool. No child should be subjected to FGM.”

Source: Liverpool Echo – 5 February 2008