UNITED KINGDOM.
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
2003 CHAPTER 31
CONTENTS
1.
1. Offence of
female genital mutilation
2.
2. Offence of assisting
a girl to mutilate her own genitalia
3.
3. Offence of
assisting a non-UK person to mutilate overseas a girl’s genitalia
4.
4. Extension of
sections 1 to 3 to extra-territorial acts
6.
6. Definitions
8.
8. Short title,
commencement, extent and general saving
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
(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
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
(1) A
person is guilty of an offence if he aids, abets, counsels or procures a person
who is not a
(2) An
act is a relevant act of female genital mutilation if—
(a) it is done in relation to a
(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.
4 Extension of sections 1 to 3 to
extra-territorial acts
(1) Sections
1 to 3 extend to any act done outside the
(2) If
an offence under this Act is committed outside the
(a) proceedings may be taken, and
(b) the offence may for incidental purposes be treated as having
been committed,
in any place in
5 Penalties for offences
A person guilty of an offence under this Act is
liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 14 years or a fine (or both),
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).
6 Definitions
(1) Girl
includes woman.
(2) A
(a) a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a
British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen,
(b) a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61)
is a British subject, or
(c) a British protected person within the meaning of that Act.
(3) A
permanent
(4) This
section has effect for the purposes of this Act.
7 Consequential provision
(1) The
Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 (c. 38) ceases to have effect.
(2) In
paragraph 1(b) of the Schedule to the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (c. 67)
(offences against the person in respect of which a member of a visiting force
may in certain circumstances not be tried by a
“(xi) the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003;”.
8 Short title, commencement, extent
and general saving
(1) This
Act may be cited as the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
(2) This
Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by
statutory instrument appoint.
(3) An
order under subsection (2) may include transitional or saving provisions.
(4) This
Act does not extend to
(5) Nothing
in this Act affects any criminal liability arising apart from this Act.