World Vision UK welcomes first prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation Act
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena and Hasan Mohamed will appear before magistrates at Westminster Magistrates Court in April. They will be charged relating to a medical procedure performed in a London hospital in 2012.
The CPS has said that it was asked by the Metropolitan Police Service to consider evidence in relation to an allegation that, following a patient giving birth, a doctor at the hospital “repaired FGM that had previously been performed on the patient, allegedly carrying out FGM himself”.
It added that Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena would be prosecuted for an offence contrary to S1 (1) of the Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003), while Hasan Mohamed “should face one charge of intentionally encouraging an offence of FGM, contrary to section 44(1) of the Serious Crime Act (2007), and a second charge of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Dr Dharmasena to commit an offence contrary to S1 (1) of the Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003)”.
World Vision UK’s director of policy and programmes, David Thomson, welcomed the news.
"The prospect of two prosecutions under the Female Genital Mutilation Act is greatly encouraging to myself and my colleagues in World Vision who have been working hard, alongside many other charities and campaigning organisations, to address and change this horrific practice wherever it occurs.
"This landmark development illustrates that FGM is now being taken seriously by the CPS, the British government and by British society at large.
“In the UK, 24,000 girls are deemed at risk of suffering FGM even though it has been a criminal offence since 1985. If these men are convicted and brought to justice, it will send a powerful signal to others in the UK that they may face the same outcome if they engage in or encourage FGM.
“If justice is delivered here, that would send a very encouraging sign to communities where World Vision works with those at risk of FGM and to those communities trying to make the change away from it - such as Ethiopia and Somaliland - that the tide is slowly turning on this damaging practice. We will watch the case with great interest."
World Vision works with a range of other organisations in various countries to challenge FGM, by supporting community-led programmes to provide alternative sources of income for cutters, and to support alternative rites of passage for girls designed by the community, with leaders of other faiths playing an important role.
“Prosecution is a landmark step, but an equally critical fight is to bring communities on board with eradicating FGM. In that regard, countries such as Ethiopia show us the way,” says David Thomson.
“The Ethiopian police are proactive, dedicating child protection officers to spending time in the community, building relationships, looking for the signs that FGM rituals are being planned or anticipated. They work with faith leaders, schools and health workers. They build a network to look out for and protect girls at risk of FGM. Britain can learn from this mindset.”
For more information, or comment, Please contact Sarah Wilson at World Vision UK on +44 (0) 7889 631613 – or by e-mailing at sarah.wilson@worldvision.org.uk