Strengthening protection from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): consultation

Part 1: The Consultation

Why we consult

Consultation is an essential part of the policy making process. It gives us the opportunity to get your opinion and expertise on a proposed area of work. You can find all Scottish Government consultations online at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/. Each consultation details the issues under consideration, as well as a way for you to give us your views, either online, by email or by post. After a consultation is closed we publish all responses where you have given us permission to do so. Responses are analysed and used as part of the policy making process, along with a range of other available information and evidence. Responses to this consultation will help to inform the potential development of stronger protections for individuals at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Deadline

The consultation was published on 4 October 2018 and closes at midnight on 4 January 2019.

How to Respond

You can respond to this consultation online, by email, or by post. Our preference is to receive responses online.

Respond Online

To respond online please use the Scottish Government's Consultation Hub, Citizen Space. You can save and return to your response at any time while the consultation is open, but please ensure that your response is submitted before the consultation closes at midnight on 4 January 2019. You will automatically be emailed a copy of your response after you submit it. If you choose this method you will be directed to complete the Respondent Information Form. The Respondent Information Form lets us know how you wish your response to be handled, and in particular whether you are happy for your response to be made public.

Other Ways to Respond

If you prefer you can also submit a written response in hard copy to The Equality Unit, 3H-North, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ or, by email to fgmconsultation@gov.scot. If you would like to submit your response by email or by post, please ensure that you complete the Respondent Information Form provided at Annex B and attach it alongside your response. The Respondent Information Form lets us know how you wish your response to be handled, and in particular whether you are happy for your response to be made public. It is helpful if you can be clear which question you are responding to so that we can make sure that we take your views into account in the right place.

Next Steps

After the consultation has closed we will analyse all the responses received and use your feedback to help inform policy in this area. Where permission has been given, we will make all responses available to the public at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/. The responses to the consultation and analysis will be published in due course. Impact assessments will also be carried out in relation to developing policy proposals.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about how this consultation has been conducted you can send your query by email to Trevor.Owen@gov.scot, or by hard copy to Trevor Owen, The Equality Unit, Area 3H-North, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.