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Find help for female genital mutilation

Proposed by Comité de la Démarche Accessible Updated on 4 місяці тому

Female genital mutilation, also called excision, is the removal of part of a woman or girl's genitals.

The operation is often performed on young girls when they are children or teenagers. For this reason, women who have undergone FGM do not always remember it as adults.

In some countries, it's a tradition. In France, it's against the law: those who do risk up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros.
Many young girls undergo female genital mutilation while living in France.
Often the operation is performed during a vacation in their parents' home country.
In France, victims are protected, even if the operation was carried out abroad.

Why is it serious?

Female genital mutilation has serious consequences for women's health, which can last a lifetime:

  • Physical health: FGM can cause pain in the genital area, problems going to the toilet, problems with menstruation, infections
  • Sex life: FGM can reduce sexual pleasure and cause pain during intercourse.
  • Pregnancy: Female genital mutilation increases the risk of problems during pregnancy and childbirth for both mother and baby .
  • Mental health: FGM is a trauma, which can have consequences on your psychological state.

How to do it?

Talk about it with people you trust

It is important not to stay alone and to explain your problem to someone you trust, for example:

  • a specialized association: a professional or a support group with other women who have experienced the same thing. To find an association near you: go to the website "Arrêtons les violence" then check your department and "Female genital mutilation"
  • a doctor: a gynecologist, a midwife, a psychologist, a doctor in a PMI (Protection Maternelle et Infantile) or in a Family Planning center (you can find one near you on this site )
  • a social worker
  • 3919: a free telephone number to talk about excision and violence, and to get advice.

Start a treatment plan

Specialized associations and Care Units for circumcised women (in certain hospitals) offer:

  • medical appointments with psychologists, gynecologists, sexologists
  • small group activities to talk and feel better.

You can consult several professionals at your own pace. This allows you to feel better based on your needs.

To find out where to find this type of help, you can call 3919.

Carry out a repair operation

In some cases, it is possible to perform surgery to repair the clitoris, which is part of the genitals. This operation is called reconstructive surgery.

This operation is not mandatory: you can choose to do it or not, depending on your personal and medical situation.
The operation is performed in the Care Units for Circumcised Women, after several appointments with specialized doctors.
Clitoral surgery is fully reimbursed by social security.

In case of emergency, call 119 (the number for children in danger) or 17 (the police).
If you cannot speak or hear well, text 114 (emergency).

Talk to a trusted adult

If you are a young girl and you are afraid of undergoing FGM (during a trip to your home country, for example), you should not stay alone. You can explain your situation to:

  • The nurse or social worker at your school, college or high school
  • A specialist association: check your department and “Female genital mutilation” on this site to find an association near you
  • A doctor at a family planning center (you can go there for free, and you don't need your parents' permission). You can find one near you on this website

Report to the police

To ensure that the French police and justice system protect you, you must report your situation:

  • on the Internet with this form
  • or in a police station.
French law protects all children at risk of female genital mutilation who live in France, regardless of their nationality.

What happens next?

If you are an adult and you know that a young girl is at risk of female genital mutilation

French law requires you to report it.
If you learn of the risk of female genital mutilation at work, you are not required to maintain professional secrecy in this case.

You can report:

  • By contacting the public prosecutor or the juvenile judge: you must send a letter to the judicial court near you.
  • When contacting Child Welfare Services: call 119.

If you are the parent of a young girl who is at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation

You can request protection for her from Ofpra.
Your daughter can be protected even if she was born in France and if you are not protected yourself.
It is then prohibited to return to your country of origin with your child.

Read: the Réfugiés.info fact sheet " Protecting your daughter from the risks of excision "

In case of emergency, call 119 (number for children in danger) or 17 (police).
If you cannot speak or hear well, text 114 (emergency).

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