Social workers secure FGM protection order for diplomat’s baby daughter

By The Press Association1st March 2016News EnglandChild Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation, London, News England

Social workers fear the baby daughter of a west African diplomat based in England could be subjected to genital mutilation.

A family court judge has made the youngster the subject of a female genital mutilation (FGM) protection order.

Mr Justice Keehan analysed preliminary issues at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Monday, and is due to consider more evidence next month.

The judge ruled that neither the girl, who is less than a year old, nor her parents could be identified.

He heard that the youngster’s mother had raised concerns and he said the local authority which had applied for the protection order was the London Borough of Southwark.

Barrister Zimran Samuel (pictured), who represented Southwark Council, outlined detail to Mr Justice Keehan.

Mr Samuel said the girl’s mother had been subjected to FGM as a child.

He said she feared that family members would take the girl abroad and subject her to FGM, and that the girl’s father would “fail to prevent” it.

He said the woman was “understandably very anxious”.

The diplomat insisted that he posed no risk to his daughter.

He told Mr Justice Keehan that he abhorred FGM.

“I have absolutely nothing to do with this,” he said.

“I would emphasise that I have absolutely no intention of taking the child anywhere. I love my daughter.”

FGM protection orders came into force last year.

Mr Samuel last year told the Press Association that the orders aimed to protect potential victims rather than punish offenders and could “make a difference”.

He said they were a barrier to people who posed a threat and gave comfort and support to vulnerable females.

”FGM protection orders, which were originally one of several recommendations made by the Bar Human Rights Committee, can make a very real difference where the criminal law has historically failed. The criminal law is intended to punish perpetrators after FGM has happened,” said Mr Samuel.

”The new civil orders allow for intervention to prevent potential victims from being subjected to FGM in the first place.

”Further, the underlying thinking behind civil protection is to encourage girls at risk to come forward without feeling that the full force of the criminal law will necessarily be brought against those closest to them.

”A judge in the family court has a high level of discretion and flexibility in how these cases progress with the fundamental aim of protecting those at risk.”