Excerpt:
Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been a crime in the UK since 1985. An estimated 65,000 girls aged 13 and under are at risk of mutilation. So why has there been a grand total of zero prosecutions?
Here we list 10 problems that have plagued the fight against FGM and 10 solutions that could improve the situation.
WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE
1. Complaints from survivors. Survivors are disempowered girls, with little voice, knowledge or social resources to make official complaints. Mutilated when young, these are often the children of those who organise the ceremony. They may be related to accomplices and be fearful of "cutters" who have status, authority, "mystique" in their communities. These children are confused, have conflicting loyalties and are scared of losing their parents.