Female Genital Mutilation, Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Abuse

Female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and honour-based abuse are child safeguarding issues that may be encountered in pharmacy practice. Signs can emerge during routine contacts at the counter, reception, on the telephone or through repeated family interactions.

These situations often involve secrecy, coercion, control and a real risk of harm to the child or young person.

Forced marriage differs from an arranged marriage because of the absence of genuine consent. Young people may be pressured by threats, emotional manipulation, violence, surveillance or sustained family pressure until they feel they have no choice. Honour-based abuse involves punishment or control justified by perceived family or community honour. FGM is a form of child abuse; it may be planned before travel, carried out during school holidays, or discovered after the procedure.

What Might Raise Concern

Warning signs in a pharmacy can be subtle. A child or young person may seem anxious about an upcoming trip abroad, withdraw suddenly, or appear distressed in the presence of family members. Requests for pain relief, dressings or sexual/reproductive health advice linked to unexplained genital pain, recent travel or pressure to marry should raise concern.

• A child or young person seeming frightened about travel or family plans.
• Someone being closely watched or not allowed to speak privately.
• Requests for help linked to unexplained genital pain or recent travel.
• Sudden withdrawal, missing contact, or signs of pressure to marry.

If you think a child or young person may be at immediate risk of FGM, forced marriage, or honour-based abuse, treat it as an urgent safeguarding concern and follow the correct escalation route without delay.

Your Response Matters

You must not investigate or quiz the child or young person. Your role is to listen, observe, record and escalate. Do not contact family members to verify the account and do not assume a companion is safe to involve. If someone raises a concern, respond calmly and do not promise complete confidentiality.

A brief disclosure or a small pattern of concern in a pharmacy may be the first opportunity for intervention. Accurate records and prompt escalation to your safeguarding lead or via emergency routes, depending on the risk level, can protect the child or young person.