Model action protocol for the Veilig Thuis organizations (hotline for domestic violence and child abuse)

Professionals who are confronted with (suspected) cases of FGM, need to have information on how they can act appropriately. Pharos therefore has developed an Action Protocol on FGM among Minors, in cooperation with FSAN, Veilig Thuis, the Youth Care Agency, police and justice, and the Council for Children’s Protection.

For professionals who are confronted with FGM

The action protocol is useful for all professionals and volunteers who are confronted with (suspected) cases of FGM among minors. It particularly focuses however on staff members of Veilig THuis (Safe at Home), the Youth Care Agency, the Council for Child Protection and the police. The protocol offers them tools on how to act when Veilig Thuis receives a report or request for advice.

This protocol describes two scenarios:

• suspicion of imminent FGM
• suspicion of performed FGM

For both scenarios, the appropriate routes of action are described, which also have been clarified in a useful scheme.

Handelingsprotocol vrouwelijke genitale verminking bij minderjarigen, Pharos, 2013 (Dutch only)

Guidelines on medical care for women and girls who have been circumcised

In 2009, Pharos teamed up with the Dutch Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (NVOG) and 12 other professional associations for the development of a model protocol on medical care for women and girls who have been circumcised. In June 2010, this model protocol received its final status. In 2012 it was slightly revised. In 2019 th model protocol was replaced by guidelines.

How to provide care to victims of FGM?

The guidelines state recommendations on how various medical professions can offer medical, psychosocial and sexological care to girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation. The guidelines pay attention to prevention, emergency care, and care in the long term in case the woman or girl develops symptoms.

For professionals who are confronted with FGM

The guidelines were designed for different medical professionals who come into contact with girls or women who have been circumcised.

It contains information about:

• the precise definition of FGM

• the physical, psychosocial and sexual problems resulting from FGM

• care for women who have been circumcised

• care during pregnancy and childbirth

Medical care for women and girls with FGM,

Position statements

Brochure ‘My parents say no!’

‘My parents say no’ is a brochure developed by GGD GHOR in cooperation with FSAN. In the brochure, aimed especially at parents originating from risk countries, some myths and facts about female circumcision are described. The parents also receive information about the penalization of FGM. The brochure is available in five languages:

My parents say no – Dutch

My parents say no – Somali

My parents say no – Arabic

My parents say no – English

My parents say no – French

Fatwas

A fatwa is an opinion of a Muslim scholar with regard to a particular issue that is based on the Quran and the Sunnah. A fatwa does not necessarily need to be understood as a judgment and is therefore not binding. However, the fact that religious leaders speak out against FGM can have a major impact on raising awareness among the target group.

Fatwa from Egypt, 2006

In 2006 the German human rights organization Target organized a conference at the Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Leading Muslim religious leaders who were present at the conference, endorsed a fatwa against FGM. This fatwa was issued by the highest Islamic cleric of Egypt, the Grand Mufti Professor Ali Goma’a. According to him, FGM should be seen as punishable aggression and a crime against humanity. A Muslim must always protect the integrity of the human body. FGM is at odds with the essence of Islam and therefore, Muslims should no longer carry out this traditional practice.

In 2007, at a seminar organized by the Islamic University of Rotterdam, Pharos and FSAN, Dutch imams signed a declaration in which they expressed their support for the Egyptian fatwa. They also promised to actively contribute to the fight against female genital mutilation in the Netherlands.

Arabic-Dutch

Arabic-English

Arabic-French

Fatwa of Mauritania, 2011

In 2011, religious leaders from ten African countries met in Mauritania to pronounce a fatwa against FGM. They came from Egypt, Sudan, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. This regional fatwa is available in Arabic, English and French.

Arabic-English-French

Statement opposing female circumcision

In conversations between professionals and parents from FGM risk countries, the strong influence of the family is frequently mentioned. Parents indicate that they do not want their daughters to be circumcised, however, family members residing in the country of origin may think differently. At the moment a girl is visiting her family over there, for example during the summer holidays, a risk arises. It is important that family members in the country of origin are well informed about the consequences of girl circumcision and also about its punishability.

Why a statement opposing female circumcision?

To inform family members abroad, the Ministry of Health has developed the document ‘Statement opposing female circumcision’. This statement is intended for parents originating from risk countries who plan to go on holiday to their country of origin. Youth Health Care professionals can give this declaration to the parents, with which they can inform their relatives abroad about the consequences and the penalization of female circumcision in the Netherlands.

Digital editions (PDFs)

Statement opposing female circumcision – Somali

Statement opposing female circumcision – Amharic

Statement opposing female circumcision – Arabic

Statement opposing female circumcision – Tigrinya

Statement opposing female circumcision – English

Statement opposing female circumcision – French

Statement opposing female circumcision – Dutch

Work instruction for information sessions for asylum seekers

The work instruction ‘Groepsvoorlichting aan asielzoekers ter preventie van vrouwelijke genitale verminking’ (Group education of asylum seekers on the prevention of FGM) is a road map that was established at the national level and serves as a tool for municipal health professionals. This participatory group education was developed for asylum seekers originating from FGM risk countries who are living in reception centres of the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers). However, the work instruction can also be used in the education of at-risk groups in other settings.

Target group: Asylum seekers from FGM risk countries living in the reception centres of COA

Goals: Prevention of FGM among under aged girls and educating women originating from countries where FGM is a tradition about where or with whom they can talk about the physical and psychological symptoms they may develop as a result of FGM.

Groepsvoorlichting aan asielzoekers ter preventie van Vrouwelijke Genitale Verminking (GGD Nederland, 2011) (Dutch only)