Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
| Year | 2003 |
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
2003 CHAPTER 31
An Act to restate and amend the law relating to female genital mutilation; and for connected purposes.
[30th October 2003]
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
1 Offence of female genital mutilation
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he excises, infibulates or otherwise mutilates the whole or any part of a girl's labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.
(2) But no offence is committed by an approved person who performs—
(a) a surgical operation on a girl which is necessary for her physical or mental health, or
(b) a surgical operation on a girl who is in any stage of labour, or has just given birth, for purposes connected with the labour or birth.
(3) The following are approved persons—
(a) in relation to an operation falling within subsection (2)(a), a registered medical practitioner,
(b) in relation to an operation falling within subsection (2)(b), a registered medical practitioner, a registered midwife or a person undergoing a course of training with a view to becoming such a practitioner or midwife.
(4) There is also no offence committed by a person who—
(a) performs a surgical operation falling within subsection (2)(a) or (b) outside the United Kingdom, and
(b) in relation to such an operation exercises functions corresponding to those of an approved person.
(5) For the purpose of determining whether an operation is necessary for the mental health of a girl it is immaterial whether she or any other person believes that the operation is required as a matter of custom or ritual.
2 Offence of assisting a girl to mutilate her own genitalia
2 Offence of assisting a girl to mutilate her own genitalia
A person is guilty of an offence if he aids, abets, counsels or procures a girl to excise, infibulate or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of her own labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.
3 Offence of assisting a non-UK person to mutilate overseas a girl's genitalia
3 Offence of assisting a non-UK person to mutilate overseas a girl's genitalia
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he aids, abets, counsels or procures a person who is not a United Kingdom national or permanent United Kingdom resident to do a relevant act of female genital mutilation outside the United Kingdom.
(2) An act is a relevant act of female genital mutilation if—
(a) it is done in relation to a United Kingdom national or permanent United Kingdom resident, and
(b) it would, if done by such a person, constitute an offence under section 1.
(3) But no offence is committed if the relevant act of female genital mutilation—
(a) is a surgical operation falling within section 1(2)(a) or (b), and
(b) is performed by a person who, in relation to such an operation, is an approved person or exercises functions corresponding to those of an approved person.
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