Risk factors and signs before FGM

FGM may occur in the UK or abroad. In children's homes, concerns often relate to family contact, upcoming travel, a relative visiting from another country, pressure about honour or purity, mention of a special ceremony, or a child expressing fear about going home or seeing specific relatives.

Risk does not rest on a child's ethnicity alone. It depends on information, behaviour, context and patterns. Staff should avoid stereotyping while treating clear concerns seriously.

Possible indicators before FGM

• Travel concern: a planned long holiday or sudden trip to a country or community where FGM is practised.
• Ceremony language: talk of becoming a woman, being clean, being prepared or having a special event.
• Family pressure: a child seems frightened about a relative, visit, phone call or family expectation.
• Known family history: a mother, sister, cousin or older female relative has had FGM.
• Behaviour change: anxiety, withdrawal, running away, refusal to go on contact or sudden distress.

Risk is not a nationality checklist

A vague worry before travel can become urgent when it is linked to fear, ceremony language, family pressure or known FGM history.