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Perception and barriers: reporting female genital mutilation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)
26059 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the perceptions of and barriers to reporting female genital mutilation (FGM) by victims and survivors of female genital mutilation to the police in England and Wales.

Research Design: The paper is based on 14 interviews conducted with adult survivors and victims of FGM. A combination of 1:1 and group interviews were used, based on the preference of the respondents. Respondents were recruited in collaboration with specialist non-governmental organisations and major stakeholders in the area of honour based violence and Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.

Findings: A key finding in this research was that all victims/survivors we interviewed stated that they did not support the practice of FGM, and that they would not follow it for younger women in their own family. Secondly, we found that none of the respondents had reported their experience to the police. Thirdly, they identified key barriers to reporting, which included: their belief that reporting their own experience would not serve any purpose because they had experienced FGM as children, and in another country; and that they did not feel able to report new incidents of FGM in the community because of a lack of trust in the police due to previous negative experiences. Finally, they believed that FGM could be prevented only by work within the community, and not through engagement with the criminal justice system.

Originality: This is, to our knowledge, one of the first papers that is based on victims and survivors’ perceptions that explores barriers to reporting cases of FGM to the police, and offers levers for change.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)251-260
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research
Volume10
Issue number4
Early online date22 Mar 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Oct 2018

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  2. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research Groups and Themes

  • Gender Research Group
  • SPS Centre for Gender and Violence Research
  • SPS Social Harm Crime and Violence Research Centre

Keywords

  • England and Wales
  • Experiences and perceptions
  • Female genital mutilation
  • Honour-based violence
  • Police
  • Victims/survivors

Access to Document

  • Full-text PDF (final published version)

    This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Emerald at https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/JACPR-09-2017-0323 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.

    Final published version, 182 KBLicence: CC BY

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    • Justice, Inequality and Gender Based Violence

      Hester, M. (Principal Investigator), Abrahams, H. A. (Co-Investigator), Aghtaie, N. (Co-Investigator), Bates, L. (Co-Investigator), Eisenstadt, N. (Co-Investigator), Gangoli, G. (Co-Investigator), Matolcsi, A. (Co-Investigator), Mulvihill, N. (Co-Investigator), Patsios, D. (Co-Investigator), Turner, W. (Co-Investigator), Walker, S.-J. (Co-Investigator), Williamson, E. (Co-Investigator), Robinson, A. (Co-Investigator), McPhee, D. (Co-Investigator), Rumney, P. (Co-Investigator), Williams, A. (Co-Investigator), Sterk, G. (Collaborator) & Magnusson, L. (Principal Investigator)

      1/10/15 → 18/05/18

      Project: Research

      File

    • HMIC 'Honour'-Based Abuse Project - Victim/Survivor Voices

      Hester, M. (Principal Investigator), Mulvihill, N. (Co-Investigator), Gangoli, G. (Co-Investigator), Gill , A. K. (Co-Investigator), Bates, L. (Co-Investigator), Matolcsi, A. (Co-Investigator), Walker, S.-J. (Co-Investigator) & Yar-Ahmad, K. H. (Co-Investigator)

      1/05/15 → 1/06/16

      Project: Research

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