U.K. Government Issues Guidance Warning Asylum Seekers Not to Rape or Perform Female Genital Mutilation

The United Kingdom’s Home Office released guidance, informational pamphlets, and posters on Wednesday to inform asylum seekers of British laws against rape, female genital mutilation, and forced child marriage, among other things.

A Home Office pamphlet titled “Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK,” explains that women have equal rights to men and can make decisions about marriage, education, and work.

The new guidance comes as the U.K. struggles to assimilate asylum seekers from countries outside of the European Union, many of whom entered the country on small boats, and growing outrage about the “grooming gangs” that are largely formed of men with Pakistani or Muslim backgrounds.