22/07/2014

Govt Announces Funding To Protect Girls From FGM

The government is to launch new action and funding to protect millions of girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

The announcement will be made by Prime Minister David Cameron, International Development Secretary Justine Greening and Home Secretary Theresa May at the Girl Summit 2014.

The Girl Summit, hosted by the government and UNICEF, is aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end FGM and child and forced marriage (CFM) within a generation. It will bring together domestic and international work to accelerate the work of campaigners, governments and charities around the world to bring an end to these practices.

Mr Cameron said: "All girls have the right to live free from violence and coercion, without being forced into marriage or the lifelong physical and psychological effects of female genital mutilation. Abhorrent practices like these, no matter how deeply rooted in societies, violate the rights of girls and women across the world, including here in the UK.

"I want to build a better future for all our girls and I am hosting the Girl Summit today so that we say with one voice – let's end these practices once and for all."

A new report out today from City University London in collaboration with Equality Now estimates that approximately 60,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years old were born in England and Wales to mothers who had undergone FGM. It estimates that approximately 103,000 women aged 15 to 49 and approximately 24,000 women aged 50 and over, who have migrated to England and Wales, are living with the consequences of FGM. In addition, approximately 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales, are likely to have undergone FGM.

The event will be attended by more than 500 delegates from 50 countries, United Nations agencies, survivors, charities, community groups, faith leaders and front line professionals, to galvanise global efforts to end FGM and CFM within a generation.

(CD/JP)

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