Report on UK Policing Guidance on Female Genital Mutilation and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Policy Scope and SDG Framework

A report on new guidance from the UK’s College of Policing concerning “honour-based abuse” indicates an expanded definition of potential victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This policy development necessitates an analysis through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning gender equality, health, and justice.

• The guidance states that FGM Protection Orders can be applied to protect “intersex, non-binary, trans men and women,” in addition to women and girls.
• This policy has drawn criticism for including transgender women, who are biologically male, as potential victims of a practice specifically targeting female genitalia.
• The College of Policing is currently reviewing the guidance in light of a UK Supreme Court ruling that defines a woman by biological sex under the Equality Act 2010.

SDG 5: Gender Equality and the Elimination of Harmful Practices

The primary SDG impacted by this issue is SDG 5 (Gender Equality), which explicitly calls for the elimination of all harmful practices, including FGM, under Target 5.3.

• The UK’s legal prohibition of FGM is a direct national action in support of SDG Target 5.3. The practice, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.
• The guidance’s inclusive language attempts to address broader concepts of gender identity. However, this has been viewed as a potential dilution of focus from the core objective of SDG 5.3, which is to protect girls and women who are the exclusive targets of this culturally-specific form of gender-based violence.
• Global data from UNFPA indicates FGM is typically performed on girls between infancy and age nine, reinforcing that the practice is a violation of the rights of female children, a key concern of SDG 5.

Intersections with SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 16 (Justice)

The issue of FGM and its policing extends beyond gender equality, directly impacting goals related to health and institutional justice.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: FGM has severe, lifelong consequences for physical and psychological health, directly contravening the objective of ensuring healthy lives for all. The practice is a significant public health issue in regions where it is prevalent, such as Somalia, Sudan, and Egypt, and among diaspora communities in the UK.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The College of Policing’s guidance represents an action by a state institution to uphold justice and protect vulnerable populations, aligning with the aims of SDG 16. The creation and application of FGM Protection Orders are mechanisms designed to strengthen institutional responses to violence. However, the controversy highlights the challenge of creating policies that are both inclusive and effective, ensuring that institutional efforts remain focused and coherent with established legal and biological definitions.

Challenges and Implications for SDG Implementation

The debate surrounding the policing guidance reveals significant challenges in the practical implementation of policies aimed at achieving the SDGs.

• Definitional Coherence: A primary challenge is the conflict between the guidance’s inclusive terminology and the biologically specific nature of FGM. For SDG targets to be met, policies must be clear and directly address the defined problem without ambiguity.
• Targeted Intervention: Effective strategies to eradicate FGM, in line with SDG 5.3, require a focused approach on the at-risk demographic, which consists exclusively of girls and women in specific communities. Broadening the scope of potential victims may risk diverting critical resources and attention from these primary groups.
• Legal and Institutional Alignment: The ongoing review of the guidance underscores the necessity for institutional policies to align with national legal frameworks, such as the Equality Act. Achieving SDG 16 requires institutions that are not only accountable but also operate with legal and logical consistency to maintain public trust and efficacy.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is explicitly identified as a harmful practice and a form of gender-based violence against women and girls. The discussion revolves around protecting potential victims and the legal definitions of who is at risk, directly engaging with the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • FGM is a procedure with severe health consequences. The article references the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), underscoring the health implications of the practice. The description of FGM as including “the removal of the labia, clitoris and the almost total sealing of the vagina” highlights the physical harm and violation of health and well-being.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article is framed around the actions of justice and law enforcement institutions. It details the “College of Policing’s” guidelines, the use of “female genital mutilation protection orders” (which are court orders), and the fact that FGM “is illegal in the UK.” This directly relates to the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels to combat violence and ensure justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
   • This target is the most directly relevant. The entire article is about FGM, a practice explicitly named in this target. The discussion of policing guidelines and protection orders is aimed at the elimination of this specific harmful practice within the UK.
2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • FGM is a severe form of violence against women and girls. The article discusses measures to protect potential victims from this violence, thereby addressing the core aim of this target.
3. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The article explicitly states that FGM is “specifically intended for young girls” and that the UNFPA notes it is “usually performed on girls aged five to nine,” and sometimes even on infants. This makes FGM a form of child abuse and violence, directly connecting the issue to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Prevalence of FGM among women and girls.
   • The article provides a direct statistical indicator by citing that “99 per cent of women in Somalia have undergone genital mutilation.” This type of data is used globally to measure the scale of the problem and track progress towards Target 5.3. This corresponds to the official SDG indicator 5.3.2 (Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting).
2. Existence of legal frameworks to prohibit FGM.
   • The article states that FGM “is illegal in the UK.” The existence and enforcement of such laws are a key indicator of a country’s commitment to eliminating the practice, reflecting progress on both SDG 5 and SDG 16.
3. Number of protective legal measures issued.
   • The article discusses “female genital mutilation protection orders,” which are court orders designed to protect potential victims. The number of such orders sought by police and granted by courts can serve as an implied indicator of the institutional response and the effectiveness of protection mechanisms in place.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: telegraph.co.uk