ABSTRACT
Chapter three examines female body mutilation including female genital mutilation (FGM) and breast ironing. It first explains FGM and gives a definition and description of the different types and stresses again, the link with patriarchal attitudes on controlling women’s sexuality. It also makes clear the internalisation by female members of the community, who are often the people who carry out the FGM on their daughters or female relatives. The law and case law in England and Wales are clearly set out, and this is followed by international human rights law and how it applies in this area. The chapter then looks at breast ironing from both the national and international perspective. The chapter points to the Istanbul Convention as a positive step in this area.
