Preventive work and helping those who have undergone FGM

If you suspect that a girl has undergone FGM or it is being planned, you should always intervene.

• A model for assessing the threat of FGM (PDF, 430 KB)
• Actions when suspecting that a girl is at risk of FGM or that FGM has happened (PDF, 194 KB)

FGM is a sensitive issue, and it may feel difficult to approach the subject with a client. You should keep in mind that female genital mutilation is a normal and respected practice in certain cultures. You should talk about FGM with your clients for example before long vacations, when it is customary for many families to travel back to their countries of origin. You should remind your clients that their relatives or friends might propose mutilation. If, on the family's return from their vacation, you suspect that a girl may have undergone FGM, you should investigate the matter more closely.

Chain for Change Campaign's video can be shown to clients as part of awareness on ending FGM as a harmful practice. The videos are available with a voiceover and subtitles in English German, Italian, French and Spanish), as well as Arabic, Bambara, Roma, Somali, Tigrinya and Urdu.

It is extremely important to approach the subject in a culturally sensitive way.

More detailed information on the following pages:

• Deinfibulation and reconstructive surgery
• At maternity and child health clinics
• In early childhood education and care
• In school health care