‘Harmful Practices’ is an all-encompassing term used by the United Nations to categorise forms of violence or ritual discrimination, primarily committed against girls and women, that have become culturally normalised.

There is no comprehensive list of harmful practices, however some of the most common include:

• Female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Forced marriage
• Honour based violence

School holidays are often a time when these practices are undertaken (particularly FGM and Forced Marriage), as it requires international travel of young females of school age.

Our dedicated pages, linked above, provide information and advice around each of these harmful practices.

Universal warning signs for Harmful Practices include:

• Truancy from school or work
• Low motivation at school or work
• Family history of harmful practices
• Running away from home
• Disclosure of travel to a country where harmful practices are known to take place

Further specific warning signs can be found on the individual advice pages.

Report Concerns & Get Support

For anyone affected by Harmful Practices, including anyone who has concerns that they or someone else may be at risk, can contact Warwickshire Police on 101.

Support is also available via Warwickshire’s Domestic Abuse Service Provider, Refuge. Call them on 0800 408 1552.