Agenda item

MOTION G 2014/15

Councillor Connor has given notice that she will MOVE the following MOTION:

Protecting women and girls in Haringey from FGM

This council recognises that FGM is an issue in Haringey and commits to tackling the problem and raising awareness.

This council notes:

·         That performing FGM in the UK and taking a child abroad to undergo FGM are both illegal.

·         It is estimated that over 60,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK, including girls in Haringey.

·         137,000 girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM in the UK.

This council also notes:

·         That FGM can cause a range of serious health problems including severe pain and emotional /psychological trauma to, in some cases, death.

·         Health issues caused by some types of FGM include– urinary problems, difficulty with menstruation, pain during sex, psychological problems, infertility, infections, problems during pregnancy and childbirth, flashbacks.

This council further notes:

·         While a minister at the Department for International Development, Lynne Featherstone announced a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement for change and help end FGM within a generation.

·         That the Coalition Government has introduced mandatory reporting of FGM

·         That the Coalition Government has also introduced mandatory recording so for the first time FGM is recorded by the NHS

·         That statutory guidelines on FGM are being introduced for all front line professionals

·         That Lynne Featherstone has organised a FGM conference in the borough bringing together communities and frontline professionals from health, education, police and social care sectors to discuss working together to end FGM

·         Lynne Featherstone has held roundtable discussions with the council, police and NHS.

This council calls for:

·         All schools in the borough to raise awareness of FGM.

·         The Cabinet Member to publish a FGM strategy setting out how the council will work together with partners such as the NHS, schools, police and religious leaders to stop FGM in Haringey, protecting the vulnerable and supporting victims.

Motion G (2014/15)

Councillor Connor MOVED, and Councillor Engert seconded, the substantive MOTION G as follows:

Protecting women and girls in Haringey from FGM

This council recognises that FGM is an issue in Haringey and commits to tackling the problem and raising awareness.

This council notes:

·         That performing FGM in the UK and taking a child abroad to undergo FGM are both illegal.

·         It is estimated that over 60,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK, including girls in Haringey.

·         137,000 girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM in the UK.

This council also notes:

·         That FGM can cause a range of serious health problems including severe pain and emotional /psychological trauma to, in some cases, death.

·         Health issues caused by some types of FGM include– urinary problems, difficulty with menstruation, pain during sex, psychological problems, infertility, infections, problems during pregnancy and childbirth, flashbacks.

This council further notes:

·         While a minister at the Department for International Development, Lynne Featherstone announced a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement for change and help end FGM within a generation.

·         That the Coalition Government has introduced mandatory reporting of FGM

·         That the Coalition Government has also introduced mandatory recording so for the first time FGM is recorded by the NHS

·         That statutory guidelines on FGM are being introduced for all front line professionals

·         That Lynne Featherstone has organised a FGM conference in the borough bringing together communities and frontline professionals from health, education, police and social care sectors to discuss working together to end FGM

·         Lynne Featherstone has held roundtable discussions with the council, police and NHS.

This council calls for:

·         All schools in the borough to raise awareness of FGM.

·         The Cabinet Member to publish a FGM strategy setting out how the council will work together with partners such as the NHS, schools, police and religious leaders to stop FGM in Haringey, protecting the vulnerable and supporting victims.

Councillor Vanier  MOVED an amendment to MOTION G, which was seconded by Councillor Wright as follows:

 Protecting women and girls in Haringey from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

This Council recognises that FGM is an issue in Haringey and commits to tackling the problem and raising awareness.

This Council notes:

·         That performing FGM in the UK and taking a child abroad to undergo FGM are both illegal.

·         The World Health Organisation has condemned FGM for many years, and it has now been unanimously rejected by a Memorandum of the United Nations

·         It is estimated that over 60,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK, including girls in Haringey.

·         137,000 girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM in the UK

·         Experts, including professionals and the third sector, believe that FGM will only be eradicated in the longer term by changing practice and custom in communities where it happens. This requires working with and empowering members of these communities to change their views towards FGM.

·         That FGM can cause a range of serious health problems including severe pain and emotional /psychological trauma to, in some cases, death.

·         The Serious Crime Act 2015, which got Royal Assent at the beginning of March, has brought in significant new provisions to tackle FGM.

This Council also notes that:

·         Both Whittington Health and North Middlesex Hospital have specialist clinics for adult women who have undergone FGM who are now pregnant and need a procedure to enable them to give birth.

·         The Whittington also carries out counselling and education with these women and their partners. A referral to Children’s Social Care is automatic if there is any concern regarding the risk to female children of having FGM performed and this service functions in conjunction with other agencies.

·         FORWARD also offer support to women affected. FORWARD – Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development – is an African Diaspora women led UK-registered campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African girls and women. This work is currently funded through London Councils.

·         Since April 2013 FORWARD have delivered FGM services in Haringey through the Ascent Ending Harmful Practices partnership led by the Asian women's Resource Centre (with IMECE Women's Centre and Latin American Rights Service).Their aim is: to improve service provision for those affected by sexual and domestic violence, specifically honour based violence (HBV), forced marriage (FM), FGM and other harmful practices in London. There are delivery targets on casework and counselling for all London boroughs.

This Council resolves to:

·         Encourage all schools in the borough to teach sex and relationship education and raise awareness of violence against women and girls, including FGM.

·         Back the #ENDFGM campaign (This is a campaign run by The END FGM European Network calling for EU action to adopt a comprehensive approach to end FGM and protect women and girls fleeing their countries for fear of being mutilated)

·         Ensure there is a coordinated, multi-agency approach to this serious issue by developing a comprehensive, integrated violence against women and girls strategy.

In addition Councillor Vanier advised of a variation to the last bullet point of the ‘This Council resolves’ after the word ‘integrated’ to insert the words ‘FGM Strategy as part of a wider’

Members then debated the MOTION and it’s amendment.

Councillor Connor  responded as the original mover to the substantive MOTION G as was her right of reply, and indicated that the amendment to the MOTION G and the wording variation would be accepted.

On a vote of the amendment to the MOTION G with the indicated variation of the last bullet point of the ‘This Council resolves’ after the word ‘integrated’ to insert the words ‘FGM Strategy as part of a wider’,  there being 48 for, 0 against and 0 abstentions the amendment was carried.

The substantive MOTION was put to the vote – there being 48 for, 0 against and 0 abstentions it was:

RESOLVED

Protecting women and girls in Haringey from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

This Council recognises that FGM is an issue in Haringey and commits to tackling the problem and raising awareness.

This Council notes:

·         That performing FGM in the UK and taking a child abroad to undergo FGM are both illegal.

·         The World Health Organisation has condemned FGM for many years, and it has now been unanimously rejected by a Memorandum of the United Nations

·         It is estimated that over 60,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK, including girls in Haringey.

·         137,000 girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM in the UK

·         Experts, including professionals and the third sector, believe that FGM will only be eradicated in the longer term by changing practice and custom in communities where it happens. This requires working with and empowering members of these communities to change their views towards FGM.

·         That FGM can cause a range of serious health problems including severe pain and emotional /psychological trauma to, in some cases, death.

·         The Serious Crime Act 2015, which got Royal Assent at the beginning of March, has brought in significant new provisions to tackle FGM.

This Council also notes that:

·         Both Whittington Health and North Middlesex Hospital have specialist clinics for adult women who have undergone FGM who are now pregnant and need a procedure to enable them to give birth.

·         The Whittington also carries out counselling and education with these women and their partners. A referral to Children’s Social Care is automatic if there is any concern regarding the risk to female children of having FGM performed and this service functions in conjunction with other agencies.

·         FORWARD also offer support to women affected. FORWARD – Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development – is an African Diaspora women led UK-registered campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African girls and women. This work is currently funded through London Councils.

·         Since April 2013 FORWARD have delivered FGM services in Haringey through the Ascent Ending Harmful Practices partnership led by the Asian women's Resource Centre (with IMECE Women's Centre and Latin American Rights Service).Their aim is: to improve service provision for those affected by sexual and domestic violence, specifically honour based violence (HBV), forced marriage (FM), FGM and other harmful practices in London. There are delivery targets on casework and counselling for all London boroughs.

This Council resolves to:

·         Encourage all schools in the borough to teach sex and relationship education and raise awareness of violence against women and girls, including FGM.

·         Back the #ENDFGM campaign (This is a campaign run by The END FGM European Network calling for EU action to adopt a comprehensive approach to end FGM and protect women and girls fleeing their countries for fear of being mutilated)

·         Ensure there is a coordinated, multi-agency approach to this serious issue by developing a comprehensive, integrated FGM Strategy as part of a wider violence against women and girls strategy.