Summary

  • The saga surrounding the new sick children's hospital in Edinburgh is the main focus of first minister's questions

  • Sturgeon defends her health secretary in the face of criticism from Carlaw and Leonard

  • Carlaw insists someone must be held accountable for the sick kids' hospital delay

  • Leonard calls for a full public inquiry

  1. Ignoring the fears of communities could drive FGM undergoundpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Anne Spiers explains her organisation is in the business of building relationships with people and ignoring the fear of communities could drive practices underground.

    Ms Spiers says any accusation of criminal behaviour puts the Multi-cultural Family Base on a sticky wicket.

  2. Women at risk of 'honour killing' without anonymitypublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Angela Voulgari says the provisions of the bill on anonymity must be extended to adult women.

    She points out Sacro has supported a 43 year old woman who, as a result of refusing to undergo FGM, was at risk of "honour killing".

    Jan MacLeod expresses concern about media reporting around cases meaning it might be difficult to maintain anonymity because the communities involved are quite small.

  3. FGM protection orders could be used in asylum cases says witnesspublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton wonders about alternatives to prevention orders.

    Jan MacLeod accepts the point children could be protected through existing law but suggests specific orders for FGM would be helpful, particularly in asylum cases.

    Asked about cosmetic genital surgery, Ms MacLeod says women and girls look to this because of societal pressures, similar to FGM.

    Ms Maguire welcomes this points, highlighting procedures from FGM to labiaplasty all stem from women not being as valued by society.

  4. Does the bill go far enough?published at 10:50 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Tory MSP Annie Wells asks if the bill goes far enough, wondering if the following additional protections be included on the face of the bill:

    • lifelong anonymity for the victim
    • failure to protect
    • a mandatory duty to report
    Tory MSP Annie WellsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Annie Wells

    Ms Macleod explains there were serious concerns about including failure to protect.

    Angela Voulgari thinks lifelong anonymity should be given to anyone who comes forward about FGM to protect against any repercussions.

    Ms Voulgari says including failure to protect was controversial although overall her organisation considered it should be.

    Hassan Darasi says he thinks the bill goes too far as there is no clear guidance so how can we expect the public to be clear about the law.

    The language is too technical as well, as some people who the law might apply to don't have English as a first language, he adds.

  5. FGM deterrence more important than punishment says witnesspublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Hassan Darasi

    Ms MacLeod says it is important to raise awareness of protection orders among communities.

    Hassan Darasi agrees there must be support provided aw well as protection.

    He also states that deterrence measures are far more important than punishment.

    Are protection orders seen as being connected to the criminal process, asks Mr Mundell.

    Anne Spiers suggests that would be hard to judge, a point echoes by Ms MacLeod who adds that it is important the two are not linked so people are not worried about criminalising their families.

  6. Education and support key for FGM protection orders say witnessespublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Angela VoulgariImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Oliver Mundell asks how people can be empowered to come forward and seek protection.

    Through education in the first place, replies Angela Voulgari, not jumping in and telling people what to do.

    Ms Voulgari explains when people know the impact FGM has, they don't want it for their child and they must understand that the authorities want to "support not to punish".

    Anne SpiersImage source, bbc

    Anne Spiers says she has some questions about how much teeth the protection order will have, when child protection orders already exist.

    Ms Spiers tells the committee she would rather the bill's title included "protection and support" not "protection and guidance" as there needs to be something in it for people seeking an order.

  7. Witnesses highlight work with faith groups and men is importantpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Jan MacLeod from the Women's Support Projects

    Convener Ruth Maguire seeks views on current FGM legislation.

    Jan MacLeod from the Women's Support Projects says it is important to work with faith groups rather than individuals to tackle FGM, because if a person truly believes their religion requires it the law will not stop them.

    Hassan Darasi from Community Infosource says his organisation works often with men, as other services tend to only focus on women but tackling FGM requires involvement of all.

  8. Background: What is FGM and what is the bill being discussed today?published at 10:30 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Eva Ontiveros
    BBC World Service

    It's estimated that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM, according to the United Nations (UN).

    Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, it is also practised in some countries in Asia and Latin America. And amongst immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand,, external the UN says.

    FGM can cause physical and mental health problems that go on to affect women in later life.

    Read more.

    Woman with razorbladeImage source, Getty Images

    TheFemale Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill, external will provide for female genital mutilation protection orders and for guidance in relation to such orders.

    It also intends to help prevent female genital mutilation generally; and for connected purposes.

    Click here for the SPICe briefing on the bill here., external

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  10. Creation of guidance must involve communitiespublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Labour MSP Mary Fee wonders if ongoing community engagement and education should be built into the bill to ensure this does not just happen around when this bill comes into force.

    Dr Ima Jackson says communities must be involved in any guidance created on this.

    Andy Sirel speaks in favour of guidance, explaining it can provide clarity of risk assessments and when legal orders must be applied for.

    The committee briefly suspects ahead of the next panel of witnesses.

  11. Background: Mother guilty of genital mutilation of daughterpublished at 09:57 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Media caption,

    FGM campaigner: 'We have to protect the most vulnerable'

    A woman who mutilated her three-year-old daughter has become the first person in the UK to be found guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM).

    The 37-year-old mother from east London wept in the dock as she was convicted after a trial at the Old Bailey.

    Her 43-year-old partner was acquitted by the jury.

    Prosecutors said the mother "coached" her daughter "to lie to the police so she wouldn't get caught".

    Read more.

  12. Lack of prosecutions is testament that FGM does not happen very muchpublished at 09:53 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Tory MSP Oliver Mundell asks why there has only been one successful FGM prosecution in the UK and no successful one in Scotland.

    Andy Sirel from JustRight Scotland, external admits he does not know and defers to the other witnesses.

    Dr Saffron Karlsen points out the one successful prosecution had no heritage in an FGM country.

    She posits that the lack of prosecution is testament that it does not happen very much and it is a significant but small problem.

    Mr Sirel points out some people are seeking protection from something that could happen in their home country, not here.

  13. Should children's hearings be about to grant FGM protection orders?published at 09:46 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Ms Constance wonders if the children's hearing system should be empowered to grant the FGM protection orders.

    Andy Sirel from JustRight Scotland says existing tools within this system are already sufficient if properly applied.

    He reiterates the problem with 16 and 17 year olds, given eligibility for a children's hearing stops at 16.

  14. Eradication of FGM will only happen if inspired by communitiespublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    SNP MSP Angela ConstanceImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Angela Constance

    SNP MSP Angela Constance asks if practitioners have a residual anxiety and nervousness about beginning to engage on FGM.

    Dr Jackson replies yes, adding eradication of FGM will only happen if it is inspired by the communities themselves.

    Ms Constance asks about practitioners' fear of cultural clumsiness and how to tackle this.

    Policy makers and service planners must become confident and emulate the confidence of women with lived experience and trust the communities that know FGM, replies Dr Jackson.

  15. Background: FGM victims treated in Scottish city hospitalspublished at 09:41 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    ScalpelImage source, Getty Images

    Medics in Scotland's biggest cities have treated victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) on more than 230 occasions in the past two years.

    NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had identified women with FGM on at least 138 occasions in 2017 and 2018.

    In NHS Lothian, which covers Edinburgh, 93 occasions were noted.

    The figures were revealed by Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson, who said the "barbaric" practice must be wiped out entirely.

    Read more.

  16. Academics warn about racialisation and marginalisation of communitiespublished at 09:35 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Dr Jackson

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton highlights evidence FGM is not limited to children, with women who have just given birth also at particular risk.

    He points to other laws which focus on specific groups.

    Dr Jackson accepts that point but insists we must be very careful with laws which touch on this communities due to concerns around racialisation and marginalisation.

    Dr Karlsen says the research indicates that those living in the UK that are from communities where FGM is common do not support its use.

    That does not mean we should not act to protect those who are at risk, she says, but she also explains there is a need to balance this with any knock-on impact it can have on these communities in the UK.

  17. Academic raises concerns about racial profiling on provision of safeguarding protectionpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Dr Karlsen says some of the participants in her research felt very strongly there was evidence of racial profiling going on within the provision of safeguarding protection and this will need to be mitigated.

    People in the study felt they were being targeted because they were Muslim or African without any evidence of extra risk, she adds.

    There must be reflection from the committee on this issue, she adds, asking why is this extra attention needed over and above tackling people who are doing other horrendous things.

    Clarity about why this is necessary would be very useful, she adds.

    She says most of the FGM that takes place is genital piercing and labiaplasty which are missing from the bill.

  18. Processes must reflect complex nature of community discussions on FGMpublished at 09:25 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    Dr Ima Jackson says existing child protection is the strongest legal protection around which this bill would sit.

    We are learning how to engage with the issues around FGM and the processes must recognise the complex nature of the discussions had within communities, she adds.

  19. FGM protection orders will be a useful tool - JustRight Scotlandpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 12 September 2019

    He agrees FGM protection orders will be a useful tool and they will add value to the current approach.

    There may be a gap or barrier in protecting girls who are 16 or 17 years old where the risk persists, Mr Sirel points out.

    These girls may be caught between protections for children and vulnerable adults he explains.