What do we know about female genital mutilation in the UK - Research Proposal Example

The UK is a country that is affected by this scourge. While France has had over a 100 prosecutions over this issue, UK’s performance has been lacklustre. The UK has in the past been compared unfavourably to other countries over the issue, such as France where there have been more than 100 successful prosecutions (BBC, 21 March 2014). The mounting intensity of the issue makes FGM in UK a significant topic for further research. The study will find out if female circumcision as a cultural practice is prevalent in the modern UK society.

This also aims to analyze the intensity of FGM’s consequences on the victim population in terms of social as well as health complications. This study may throw light on the issue so as to evoke better education, community-wide awareness programs, and legal intervention that may prevent this unethical practice. FGM as a whole is debilitating to a woman. Her private parts are distorted endangering her health and life. A rigorous effort is essential to wipe out this practice from the UK society.

The study has certain limitations as FGM is performed secretly in most cases. Social stigma along with legality concerns will prevent people from disclosing facts. World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as ‘all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitals, or injury to the female genital organs for non-therapeutic reasons’. According to the WHO, FGM is of four types. The clitoris could be removed alone or it could be removed with the labia minora. In some cases, the vaginal opening could be narrowed with or without excising the clitoris.

All other harmful practices on the female genitalia also come under this definition. (RCM, et al. 2014). Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) agrees that there are very few referrals for FGM. Nevertheless, she puts the onus on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) due to which there have been no cases to begin with (Owen, 2014). Lack of