"Thousands of girls at risk" - child protection groups

“If the world is to become a better place, it's surely the duty of the enlightened to help open the eyes of the ignorant.

This barbaric torture is not carried out on girls because the parents are evil, on the contrary the parents love their children it's just that they think it's the right thing to do.

What is needed is for people of recognised stature in ethnic communities to set about ending this practice as if setting about ending polio.

As already mentioned, this is not a religious practice, but the huge importance religious leaders have in communities gives them a great opportunity to bring home the message, in a way the police and courts couldn't, and I am talking to Christian leaders here as much as anyone else, as some of your flock will be returning to ancestral lands this year to give their daughters the "right start" in life.

In fact if I were a religious leader, this next weekend would not pass without my congregation getting a reality check.”

“Thank you for all your comments on this important issue. We've just uploaded a video interview with Jackie Mathers, who is the designated nurse for Safeguarding Children NHS Bristol. In it she talks about the issues involved in more depth.”

“The parents of girls sent to Africa for this barbaric act should also be sent to Africa and not let back into this country!!!”

“Let us not mince our words:

""" It may take place in a hospital, but is usually performed, without anaesthesia, by a traditional circumciser using a knife, razor, or scissors."""

http://tinyurl.com/yv9ml2

It has nothing to do with religion, unlike male circumcision (when not for medical reasons). It would appear that it is not a man thing either i.e. it would appear that women advocate the procedure.

It's a procedure that is positively medieval and has no place in the modern world.”

“Alternatively if it is safe enough to return home to these (ahem) 'war torn' countries on 'holiday' one would assume that it is safe enough to go home and stay there.

Yet another abuse of the asylum system.”

“@FromMendip

"Why is the press so coy in describing what actually takes place? They never seem to be so when it comes to male private parts.

A nurse explained this morning on Radio Bristol in graphic detail what is carried out on these girls and anyone who is not aware (FGM is a vague term) would be absolutely horrified at the procedures and the results."

Quite right. My wife is a health worker and she is horrified by the practice. If people were more aware of what it entails, public anger would be greater, which may be why we're not told.

It's not a requirement of Islamic law, although some imams do encourage it. Some even facilitate the transport of girls to countries that DO allow and encourage it. Girls are illegally spirited away to these countries and, AFAIK, we've yet to see a prosecution of those responsible.”

“Although I would agree with some of the comments above in relation to male circumcision i.e. why is this not deemed mutilation when it is not surgically necessary, male circumcision does not normally rob the person of sexual pleasure, unlike Female genital mutilation, although of course it may probably lead to some lower level of sensation. Male circumcision may well also have some health benefits in those liable to have tight foreskins/bad hygiene, if done in proper hygienic surroundings, the worry in the 3rd World is that children will be seriously infected via a brutal (without anesthesia or sterile surroundings) dirty circumcision.

Female genital mutilation has no benefits and is purely aimed at robbing females of sexual pleasure so that they are not tempted when there are absent husbands who work away. it is also a way of making sure that their future husbands know that they are indeed 'virgins', although this is not 100% the case as many doctors also practice hymen/vaginal reconstruction (rarely in the 3rd world). However intercourse after you have been sewn up so tight is very traumatic - the whole point of this barbaric FGM practice.

The very sad thing in many of these cases of mutilation is that they are done or initiated by the mothers who have experienced this brutality themselves.As FGM is normally done abroad it also has all the associated risks of 3rd world medicine (if done cheaply), as well as being worse than a brutal rape with associated future trauma.

For the sake of the protection of children, common sense and the law, both of these practices should not be allowed on children, except for male circumcision on medical grounds. Children should be allowed to grow up to make their own decisions on religion, to be eternally reminded of a religion by a cut to ones most sensitive parts is a crime, although how many dangerous male holiday circumcisions would then take place.

FGM has I believe no religious links (they are tribal traditional) and is just a misogynistic practice for controlling women by denying them sexual pleasure, something that every right minded person should be against.”

“Why is the press so coy in describing what actually takes place? They never seem to be so when it comes to male private parts.

A nurse explained this morning on Radio Bristol in graphic detail what is carried out on these girls and anyone who is not aware (FGM is a vague term) would be absolutely horrified at the procedures and the results.”

“Because its not just about men, its about parents, It's he mother who gave birth to the boy who she watches having his genitals mutilated. So its about men and women. the issues are related, Just focussing on female mutilation is a false seperation of the mutilation parents do to their children.”

“Why don't men stand up for their own rights? Why not just concern yourself with this issue?”