Find your country’s child helpline
Child Helpline International lists recognised services by country and territory for advice, protection and confidential support.
Open the worldwide directory →Help and safeguarding · worldwide
You are allowed to ask for help.
If something has made you worried about yourself, a friend or a child, share the concern with someone who can act safely. You do not need to investigate or prove what is happening.
Immediate danger
Contact the local emergency services now. In the UK, call 999. Keep yourself safe and do not intervene alone.
Find a child helpline in your country →International support
Help must work wherever a child lives.
There is no single worldwide emergency number. Services, laws and reporting routes vary, so use recognised support in the country where the child is.
Tell a safe adult
Speak privately to a teacher, safeguarding lead, counsellor, social worker, healthcare professional or another adult who can use the local protection system.
See the safe steps →Seek qualified local healthcare
FGM/C can cause immediate and long-term health complications. Anyone who is injured, bleeding, unwell or in pain should use the appropriate local health or emergency service.
Read WHO information →Immediate danger
Contact local emergency services if someone may be harmed now or is being taken somewhere imminently. In the UK, call 999. Keep yourself safe; do not intervene alone.
Tell a trusted adult
Speak privately to a teacher, safeguarding lead or another adult who listens and can act. If the first person does not help, tell someone else or use your local child helpline.
Listen—then tell
Take your friend seriously. Do not promise secrecy, confront relatives, search for evidence or post about it online.
Use the law where you are
Follow current safeguarding law and procedures in your country. Do not assume UK reporting duties apply overseas.
UK official routes
For people in the United Kingdom.
The following law, NHS and protection-order links are UK-specific. Visitors elsewhere should use their own country’s child-protection, police and health services.