Legislation related to female genital mutilation (FGM) should:
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require the development of police protocols that are centered upon survivor safety and respectful investigation of FGM.
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state that police must develop protocols for youth and survivor interviews, and for immediate medical testing, in order that the survivor may be questioned and examined in a respectful and timely manner, and at an age/ developmentally appropriate level, for successful evidence use at trial.
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require that police coordinate with prosecutors, survivor support groups and social services, including child protection agencies.
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require that police receive training on a regular basis on the latest information about female genital mutilation and the most respectful methods of handling FGM survivors.
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provide that law enforcement professionals who do not pursue cases of FGM shall be penalized (Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Section 8(b)) and Police Protocols Section of the Legislation Module).
(Excerpted from and see the Roles and responsibilities of police in responding to Sex Trafficking sub-section of the Legislation module for details on illustrative examples and promising practices).