Confusion over FGM law exemptions

Confusion is still rife among police, midwives and campaigners over whether “designer vagina” operations fall within female genital mutilation laws, a group of MPs has said.

The Government has previously said the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 does not contain any exemptions for cosmetic surgery and it has no plans to amend the legislation specifically to prohibit female genital cosmetic surgery. But in a report on FGM, the Home Affairs Select Committee said that despite Government reassurances there is still confusion and the Act should be amended to make it clear female genital cosmetic surgery would be a criminal offence if conducted on girls under 18 without physical or mental health justification.

Committee chair Keith Vaz said: “The law relating to female genital cosmetic surgery is ambiguous and must be clarified. We cannot tell communities in Sierra Leone and Somalia to stop a practice which is freely permitted on Harley Street.”