Female genital mutilation or cutting

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM) is any procedure that removes part of or all the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This includes methods that cause harm such as burning.

FGM is a serious form of violence against women and girls and a violation of their human rights. It is illegal in Canada at any age and is considered a form of aggravated assault.

Anyone in Canada who participates in FGM, including parents who fail to protect their children, can be charged with a crime. It is also illegal to remove a child from Canada to undergo FGM.

On this page

• Immediate action to take if you are at risk
• Steps to take if you cannot avoid travel
• Steps to take if you have undergone FGM
• Steps to take if you think someone might be forced to undergo or has undergone FGM
• Understanding FGM
• Resources for help and support

Steps to take if you cannot avoid travel

If you think someone will force you to leave Canada to undergo FGM, and you cannot avoid travelling, inform someone you trust in Canada.

If possible, before you leave, try to give them the following information:

• contact information while you’re outside Canada, including the address where you will be staying, the names of the people you will be staying with and their relationships to you
  • this can help others locate you if you need help
• copies of important documents:
  • share photocopies of the passport photo page and your birth certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate
  • these can help Canadian officials verify your identity if you need assistance and help you get replacements
• a recent photo of yourself:
  • this can help others to recognize you
    • It can also help them if they need to search for you or confirm your identity
• travel details, including your itinerary there and back, flight information and return date and the names of the people travelling with you:
  • this can help someone track your location and expected movements

Depending on your situation, and if it is safe to do so, you may want to consider the following safety measures:

• know how to contact the nearest Canadian office abroad:
  • the consular services and assistance available to you will vary according to your circumstances and wishes and will also depend on the laws of the country you are in
  • keep the contact details of the nearest Canadian office securely hidden so you can access these quickly if needed
• research local services that may be able to assist you:
  • the nearest Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate abroad may have some services that can help you, but if you are not located in a large city, the options may be limited
  • consult the directory of domestic and sexual violence helplines and services around the world
• carry a hidden mobile device that works internationally, with the sound and vibrate feature both turned off:
  • a phone that works in other countries lets you call for help without anyone noticing
  • keep it on silent and turn off the vibrate feature to prevent it from making noise and alerting others
• keep copies of important documents:
  • have back-up copies or photos of your passport, visa, entry stamp, birth certificate and travel documents
  • these can help you prove who you are and help you get replacements
• bring 2 extra passport-sized photos of yourself:
  • keep 2 extra passport-sized photos of yourself in a secure and hidden place
  • these can be useful if your passport is taken away from you and you need to apply for travel documents quickly
• carry emergency cash:
  • keep a small amount of cash hidden securely—ideally in a local currency or another currency that is normally used at your destination
  • this can help you pay for food, transportation or other necessities to get to a safe place
  • in emergency situations, the embassy, high commission or consulate can help identify options to pay for your flight back to Canada if you lack funds
• have a map and a list of local emergency contacts and keep them hidden:
  • a physical map and a list of local emergency contacts can help you find safe places to go or people to call for help if you are in danger
• set up private communications:
  • use code words or signals, as well as a separate email or social media account, to communicate with someone you trust
    • make sure your password is something that people will not be able to guess
  • this makes it easier for you to let the person know if you are in danger, and it can make it harder for anyone else to understand your messages
• stay in regular contact with people you trust:
  • check in often and agree on a time when they should seek help if they do not hear from you
  • this way, if something goes wrong, someone will notice quickly and can seek help or alert the authorities
• sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service:
  • this is a free service that allows Canadian officials to notify you if there is an emergency at your destination or a personal emergency at home

Steps to take if you have undergone FGM

If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you have already undergone FGM, there are medical and mental health services available to you. Contact the End FGM Canada Network by email at info@endfgm.ca for information.

If you have experienced FGM in Canada, you should contact your local police, as this is a criminal offence.

Find resources that support victims of sexual and gender-based violence, including FGM (Public Health Agency of Canada).

If you’re still outside Canada

• Contact the nearest Canadian office abroad for help:
  • The consular services and assistance available will vary according to your circumstances and request, as well as the country where you are located
  • Consular officials can discuss the help available to you

Steps to take if you think someone might be forced to undergo or has undergone FGM

Signs to watch for

• They mention a special ceremony or procedure
• They have trouble sitting, complain of pain or have bladder or menstrual issues after their trip
• They say someone did something to them but won’t or can’t talk about it

Additionally, be alert for signs of domestic violence or child abuse.

How to help someone at risk

• Talk to them kindly and clearly:
  • let them know they can trust you
  • help them find confidential and trustworthy assistance
  • find resources available in Canada
• Support them with safety planning and in understanding their rights

What you can do

• If someone is at imminent risk of FGM, you should contact the police immediately
• Contact the provincial or territorial child protection agency (Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal)
• Learn how to prevent FGM and support survivors in Canada through the End FGM Canada Network
• If you’re outside Canada, contact the nearest Canadian office abroad or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, which is always open at all times

Find additional resources in Canada to support them.

Understanding FGM

FGM is any procedure that removes part of or all the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This includes methods that cause harm such as burning.

FGM is a serious form of violence against women and girls and a violation of their human rights. It can cause lifelong physical and mental health problems and can even lead to death.

FGM happens worldwide, including in Canada. Over 200 million women and girls worldwide are survivors of FGM, and more than 4 million girls are at risk each year. In Canada, an estimated 95,000 to 161,000 people are at risk or have experienced FGM.

Some women and girls are taken to another country to undergo the procedure. In certain situations, family members may use a vacation as a cover to take a child out of Canada to undergo FGM. Once they arrive in another country, the child’s passport and money may be taken, and they may be closely watched to stop them from returning to Canada or asking for help. FGM is also often connected to forced marriage.

FGM is illegal in Canada at any age. It is considered aggravated assault and can lead to up to 14 years in prison. It is also a crime to take anyone under 18 out of Canada to undergo FGM. Anyone in Canada who participates in FGM, including parents who fail to protect their children, can be charged with a crime.

Learn how to protect women, girls and gender-diverse people from FGM and how to support survivors in Canada through the End FGM Canada Network.

Learn more about FGM through the World Health Organisation.

Learn more about forced marriage.

Resources for help and support

Government of Canada resources

• Emergency consular assistance through Global Affairs Canada:
  • Emergency support for Canadians outside Canada or at risk of being taken outside Canada.
  • Depending on the local context, consular officers may be able to help you by:
    • Giving you a list of local resources to help you find food, a safe place to stay, a lawyer and other support as needed.
    • Providing Canadian travel documents.
    • Providing information on how to leave the country.
    • Coordinating safe transportation to an airport or a point of exit.
    • Helping you to apply for private or public funds or both, such as the Distressed Canadian Fund or the Victims Fund (Justice Canada).
    • Talking to you about options once you return to Canada and providing you with information about services in Canada that you can connect with.
• Get help now (Women and Gender Equality Canada):
  • Support for Canadians experiencing gender-based violence.
• Support services for those affected by gender-based violence (Women and Gender Equality Canada):
  • Support services for those affected by gender-based violence provided in your area.
• Family Violence Initiative - Abuse is Wrong in Any Language (Department of Justice Canada):
  • Family violence prevention.
• Financial assistance for Canadians victimized abroad (Department of Justice Canada):
  • Financial assistance for Canadian victims of crime outside Canada.
• Help for spouses or partners who are victims of abuse (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada):
  • Support for spouses or partners facing abuse.

Non-governmental resources in Canada

• Safe Centre of Peel:
  • Comprehensive support for abuse victims in the Peel region in Ontario.
• End FGM Canada Network:
  • A group of survivors, individuals and organizations working to end FGM and to support survivors both in Canada and abroad.
• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic:
  • Legal services and support for women facing gender-based violence in Toronto, Ontario.
• Shield of Athena:
  • Support and resources for victims of abuse in Montréal, Quebec.
• Signal For Help (Canadian Women’s Foundation)
  • A simple one-handed gesture to use to discreetly indicate the need for help in situations of gender-based violence.
  • Learn how to recognize and respond to this signal to support those who are in danger.
  • Violence at Home #SignalForHelp:
    • A video on how to use or recognize the Signal for Help
• iHEAL app:
  • A free, private and secure app that helps Canadian women who have experienced abuse from a current or past partner find personalized ways to stay safe and be well.

Service directories

• Kids Help Phone – listed resources:
  • Free counselling and resources for youths; always available at all times.
• NO MORE Global Directory:
  • A directory of domestic and sexual violence helplines and services around the world.
• Victim Services Directory (Department of Justice Canada):
  • A directory of victim support services across Canada.
• Find family violence resources and services in your area (Public Health Agency of Canada):
  • Local support and resources in relation to family violence.
• Victim Justice Network:
  • Online resources for victims of violence.
• ShelterSafe.ca—Women’s Shelters Canada:
  • A directory of shelters across Canada for women experiencing abuse.
• 2-1-1 services in Canada:
  • A helpline to connect with community, social, health and government services; it is always open at all times.

Related links

• Forced marriage
• Marriage outside Canada
• Advice for women travellers
• Child abduction and parenting or custody issues
• Conversion therapy outside Canada