Legal News

A leading lawyer who specialises in cases involving female genital mutilation (FGM) has accused the UK of falling behind other European countries in efforts to eradicate the practice of FGM.

Linda Weil-Curiel has been handling FGM cases since the 1980s, when she was one of three lawyers who worked on a case involving the death of a three-month old baby, Bobo Traore, who was subjected to FGM in a flat in Paris in 1982.

The UK has pledged to eradicate both FGM and forced marriage – a pledge David Cameron made in 2014, after the Girls’ Summit was held in London.

The UK is also strengthening UK Border Force activities at major airports and ports, to help detect young girls being trafficked into or out of the UK, who may be at risk from FGM, forced marriage or being trafficked into the sex industry in other EU countries.

In Britain, FGM is now also considered a form of child abuse.

However, following the case of Bobo Traore, France put FGM at the top of its political agenda and more than 100 cases involving female genital mutilation have been heard in French courts since then.

Speaking to The Times, Ms Weil-Cureil said that the UK needed to bring more FGM cases to court – and she called FGM “the most sexist act in the world – and an attempt to control women’s sexuality”.

So far, the UK has only prosecuted one case of FGM – and the Human Rights campaign group Equality Now has called Britain “the female genital mutilation capital of Europe”.

Ms Weil-Curiel said that political correctness in the UK was hampering the fight against the practice – and added that doctors and GPs should be “more involved” in tackling FGM.

She said that in France, children under the age of six are checked by doctors for signs of FGM – which, if discovered, they report to the police.

In 2003, the UK passed the Female Genital Mutilation Act, which made FGM illegal.

There have recently been suggestions that any surgery to the female sex organs should be banned in the UK, unless surgery is a medical necessity.

This would also ban so-called designer vagina operations, and any other elective surgery on the female genitals for cosmetic purposes.

There is a risk, however, that a ban might result in women and young females travelling abroad for such operations, possibly carried out by unqualified or inexperienced – or even bogus – cosmetic surgeons.

In other jurisdictions, it may also be much harder to claim compensation if cosmetic surgery is negligent or something goes wrong during the procedure.

Duncan Lewis Family Lawyers

Duncan Lewis family lawyers can advise on family law and child care – including cases involving child abuse and domestic violence, such as FGM, as well as physical abuse, sexual abuse, controlling behaviour or psychological abuse.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors and can advise on family law under UK law or Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care, call Duncan Lewis family lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For confidential legal help with domestic violence, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors Helpline on 07920 077054.