Female Genital Mutilation & Cutting: Strategies for ... · Membership Benefits- ... Sarah Sisaye, Management and Program Analyst Office of Safe & Healthy Students ... Death Risk Of

Kathleen O’Connor, JD, Deputy Chief, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Criminal Division, U.S.

Department of Justice;

Sarah Sisaye, MPH, CHES, Management and Program Analyst, US Department of Education; and

Angela Peabody, Executive Director, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation

Female Genital Mutilation & Cutting:

Strategies for Education and Prevention

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The Whole School, Whole

Community, Whole Child

(WSCC) model requires us

to take a systems-based

approach to health

promotion.

Only when all members

of the school and

community work together

can we address problems.

The WSCC Framework

Female Genital Mutilation & Cutting: Strategies for Prevention and Education

Kathleen O’Connor, Deputy Chief Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section

Criminal Division

U.S. Department of Justice

Sarah Sisaye, Management and Program Analyst Office of Safe & Healthy Students

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

U.S. Department of Education

Angela Peabody, Director Global Womens’ P.E.A.C.E Foundation

NEW HOME, NEW LIFE

WHAT IS FEMALE GENITAL

MUTILATION/CUTTING (FGM/C)?

Includes excising, infibulating or cutting any part

of the female genital organs for non-medical

reasons.

Different cultures may have different words for this

practice, including circumcision or sunna.

WHEN DOES FGM/C HAPPEN?

WHY DOES FGM/C HAPPEN?

Infection, Bleeding,

Death

Risk Of HIV/AIDS

Infertility & Sexual

Problems

Difficulties With Childbirth

Psychological Scarring

POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS

GLOBAL PREVALENCE OF FGM/C

RAPID GROWTH OF IMMIGRANTS FROM

COUNTRIES PRACTICING FGM/C

WHO IS AT RISK IN THE UNITED STATES?

All Areas 506,795

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 65,893

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 51,411

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 37,417

Los Angeles-Long Beach- Anaheim, CA 23,216

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 22,923

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 19,075

Columbus, OH 18,154

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 16,417

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 15,854

Boston, Cambridge, Newton, MA-NH 11,347

Other Metro Areas 216,307

Outside of Metro Areas 8,780

U.S. WOMEN AND GIRLS AT RISK OF FGM/C

Perform or assist

FGM

Girls under the age

of 18 in the U.S.

Vacation Cutting

FGM/C IS A FEDERAL CRIME

18 U.S.C. § 116

STATE LAWS CRIMINALIZING FGM/C

California Georgia* Maryland New

Jersey*

Oregon West

Virginia

Colorado Illinois Minnesota New York Rhode

Island

Wisconsin

Delaware Kansas* Missouri North

Dakota

Tennessee Arizona

Florida* Louisiana* Nevada* Oklahoma Texas

* = Also Covers “Vacation Cutting”

Even though only 23 states specifically

criminalize FGM/C, child abuse is

punishable in every state

The events that constitute FGM/C meet

the legal definition of assault

consummated by a battery on a child.

Every state has some version of

mandatory reporting requirement for

child abuse.

FGM/C IS A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE

A child from a community that is

known to perform FGM/C may:

talk about going on a special holiday

to a country where the procedure is

prevalent (“vacation cutting”).

confide that she is to have a “special procedure” or celebration.

POSSIBLE INDICATIONS THAT

FGM/C MAY BE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE

A child from a community known to

perform FGM/C may:

spend long periods of time away from the

classroom during the day with bladder or menstrual problems.

have prolonged absences from school

plus a noticeable behavior change.

seek to be excused from physical

exercise without the support of their

physician.

POSSIBLE INDICATIONS THAT

FGM/C MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE

Raise awareness of FGM/C among staff.

Familiarize yourselves with the warning signs that

FGM/C will occur or has already occurred.

Ensure that a designated member of staff with

responsibility for safeguarding children is well-

versed in FGM/C.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

AT YOUR SCHOOL?

FGM/C is a complex and sensitive issue

that requires professionals to approach

the subject carefully.

Make sure to:

give the individual time to talk and be

willing to listen.

ensure that a female staff member is

available if the girl would prefer this.

create an open and supportive

environment.

SPEAKING WITH CHILDREN

WHO HAVE UNDERGONE TRAUMA

RISK FACTORS

A child is at risk if:

She was born to a woman who has undergone

FGM/C

She has a sibling who has undergone FGM/C

She or her family are from a country with a high

prevalence of FGM/C

CASE SCENARIO

-Fatu is born in the United States to immigrant parents, which

makes her a U.S. citizen. Fatu spends the first 7 years of her life a

happy, friendly and smart girl.

-Fatu is taken to her parents’ country of origin at the age of 7,

under the pretense of a vacation trip to visit her grandparents.

Once in her parent’s home country, Fatu is forcibly taken to the exciser and mutilated. Fatu and her parents return to the United

States, and she returns to school after the summer.

-Fatu’s teachers notice a difference in her behavior. Fatu is

withdrawn and distant, and is no longer interested in playing with

her best friend. Teachers notice a difference in Fatu’s studies,

and are confused.

NEXT STEPS?

Fatu’s teacher brings her to you.

What should you say to Fatu?

How do you approach her?

Should you call her parents?

Should you call Child Protective Services?

QUESTIONS/CONTACT

Kathleen O’Connor, Deputy Chief

[email protected]

Sarah Sisaye, Management and Program Analyst

[email protected]

Angela Peabody

[email protected]