Skip to main content

COVID-19 and travel

Do not go overseas. A travel ban is in place. View details
Home - smartraveller.gov.au, be informed, be prepared - logo
Smartraveller

Where are you going?

Browse destinations

Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Returning home
      • Staying overseas
      • Overseas financial assistance
      • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
      • General FAQs
      • Registration FAQs
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Before you go
  3. Staying within the law
  4. Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure that intentionally changes or injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is a crime in Australia. It's also a crime in Australia if performed on an Australian overseas.

This page provides information on:

  • what FGM is
  • FGM and the law
  • preventing FGM
  • how to report FGM in Australia
  • how to report FGM from overseas

This page is for people considering taking an infant, child or woman overseas for FGM. It's also for those who think or know someone is being taken overseas for FGM.

If you fear you're family is taking you overseas for FGM, contact your local police or dial 000 immediately. Police can act urgently to protect you.

What is FGM?

The World Health Organisation (the WHO) is the authority on identifying and eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM). The WHO describes FGM as any procedure that involves injury to, or removal of, external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

It can cause serious and long-lasting health problems for the victim.

The WHO estimates that:

  • between 100 and 140 million women and girls have undergone FGM worldwide
  • 3 million girls are at risk of undergoing the procedure every year

For more information, see the female genital mutilation fact sheet (the WHO).

FGM and the law

FGM is a crime in Australia. This includes acts committed overseas as well as in Australia.

It's a crime to:

  • take or arrange to take a child overseas for FGM
  • take an Australian resident overseas for FGM
  • perform FGM
  • witness FGM

Penalties may include a maximum of 7-21 years in prison.

Preventing FGM

In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution A/RES/67/146 condemning FGM. The resolution encourages member states to work harder to end the harmful practice.

The Australian Government sees FGM as an abuse of the rights of women and girls. The Government supports all actions to stop the practice around the world.

It's every Australian's responsibility to take steps to prevent FGM. If you think someone is being taken overseas for FGM, report it.

How to report FGM

If you're in Australia, report FGM to your local police. You can report it anonymously.

  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

If you have witnessed FGM, or learn that someone had performed FGM, report it. It is illegal to not report FGM. If you fail to report a crime, you could be arrested or jailed.

If you 're overseas and someone you know has been taken overseas for FGM, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate. You can also call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

Read more

  • See our information about forced marriage.
  • Read our pages on child sex offenses and preventing sexual assault.
  • Understand what happens if you're arrested or jailed.
  • Understand how the Australian Government can help overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.

See also

  • See the Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting factsheet (Department of Social Services).
  • Read about female genital mutilation (World Health Organisation).
  • Learn more about Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (National Education Toolkit for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Awareness).
  • Get crisis counselling (1800 RESPECT).

 

Related content

Staying within the law

Understand the local laws of the country you're visiting and the Australians laws that still apply to you when overseas

View details
Forced marriage

A marriage must be entered into with the full and free consent of both people. Learn more about forced marriage.

View details
Carrying or using drugs

Never buy, use or travel with illegal drugs when overseas.

View details

Main navigation

  • The basics
    • Destinations
    • Passport services
    • Visas
    • Insurance
    • Schengen
    • Travel advice explained
  • Who you are
    • Children
    • Dual nationals
    • LGBTI++
    • Mature
    • School leavers
    • Women
  • Activities
    • Adoption
    • Adventure
    • Backpacking
    • Business
    • Living and working overseas
    • Marriage
    • Studying
    • Surrogacy
    • Volunteering
  • Major events
    • Hajj
    • Ramadan
  • Health
    • Disability
    • Infectious diseases
    • Medical assistance overseas
    • Medical tourism
    • Medication
    • Mental health
    • Pregnancy
    • Reciprocal health
    • Vaccinations
    • Death
  • Staying safe
    • Assault
    • Demonstrations
    • Earthquakes and tsunamis
    • Kidnapping
    • Natural disasters
    • Partying safely
    • Piracy
    • Scams
    • Severe weather
    • Sexual assault
    • Terrorism
    • Theft and robbery
  • Laws
    • Carrying or using drugs
    • Child sex offences
    • Female genital mutilation
    • Forced marriage
  • Getting around
    • Air travel
    • Boat travel
    • Cruising
    • Public transport
    • Road safety

Contact us

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For non-urgent enquiries, visit the contact page

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

For more information go to about us.

Resources

View resources for travel industry and media.

Feedback

To provide feedback on our website or subscription service, email us at smartraveller@dfat.gov.au

To provide feedback on consular services that you have recently received, email consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au

Information in other languages

Find information in other languages.

Connect with us

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

News

Read our latest news.

Footer

Australian Government logo. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Privacy policy
  • Copyright
  • Cookies and analytics
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Legal
  • Sitemap

Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Returning home
      • Staying overseas
      • Overseas financial assistance
      • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
      • General FAQs
      • Registration FAQs