The introductory chapter gives an overview of FGM, as a practice both in the UK and internationally. It outlines the heritage and trajectory of anti-FGM laws in the UK. As FGM continues to be performed in the UK, this chapter draws on the existing evidence in respect of the prevalence of the practice. The four types of FGM and the changing dynamics of the practice are explored in detail. The chapter draws on the motivations for FGM which underpin the prevalence of the practice. It concludes with an outline of the diverse interview participants that gave their time and knowledge to participate in the research that has culminated in this ground-breaking book.