The few cases of female genital mutilation identified in Guernsey were all discovered in the past five years.
A recent ‘Freedom of Information’ request saw the Committee Health and Social Care confirm that “staff have encountered a limited number (<5) instances of female
genital mutilation in Guernsey”.
Further questions posed by Express confirmed that each of these cases were identified over the past five years.
This coincides with a spike in Guernsey’s population since the covid pandemic first gripped the island in 2020.
In March 2020, the population of Guernsey was just over 63,000 but by the end of 2023 it had reached just under 65,000.
Female genital mutilation is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the practice, traditional in some cultures, of partially or totally removing the external genitalia of girls and young women for non-medical reasons”.
While the practice is most often carried out on “girls and young women”, HSC has also confirmed to Express that each of the <5 cases identified in Guernsey over the past five years “all relate to women over the age of 18”.
In the FOI response, HSC had said that healthcare staff “have a statutory duty to report to the police where they discover that female genital mutilation appears to have been carried out on a girl who is under 18 years of age”.
Express asked if any of the cases identified in Guernsey have therefore been reported to police – as they were all in women over the age of 18, but evidence from elsewhere shows that it is likely that the practice was carried out when they were under 18.
We have not yet received an answer to this question – and it’s acknowledged that HSC has already said that it “is committed to its duty of confidentiality and will not provide any further details” – but Express will update this article if any further information is given.
FGM is illegal in many countries, but currently it is not defined as illegal in Guernsey.
That is likely to change in the near future, after the Committee for Home Affairs included FGM in updated domestic abuse legislation that will come back to the next States to be ratified.
The Committee for Home Affairs has said this will then make it easier for any future cases of FGM to be investigated locally.
“The specific offence of FGM does not currently exist in the Bailiwick. However, FGM is traumatic and violent act for the victim and can cause harm in many ways and if reported, this type of crime would be investigated under another offence such as wounding, grievous bodily harm or sexual assault, for example. There would need to be a manual review of records to identify the specific details of these offences to determine whether any would have constituted FGM, this would require the diversion of a significant amount of resource.
“The Committee for Home Affairs has sought to address this gap in legislation and the Assembly approved the relevant policy letter for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences Legal Reform in March.
“If anyone has any concerns for themselves or others in relation to FGM then Home Affairs and the Police would encourage individuals to report the matter either directly to the Police or the Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Willow House or anonymously via Crimestoppers. You can also seek support from a medical professional or Victim Support and Witness Service.”