The fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the UK has received a £250,000 boost to promote the national FGM helpline, provide training for frontline professionals and further support local organisations.
The money, awarded to the Home Office following a successful bid for funding from the European Commission, will establish a Community Engagement Fund to support voluntary sector organisations to tackle FGM. The fund will allow local groups to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to aid work within their communities.
The department will also launch an FGM e-learning tool to help GPs, teachers, nurses and the police better recognise the warning signs, and an awareness raising programme will be delivered across Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
In addition, around £100,000 will be used to signpost and promote the NSPCC FGM helpline, launched earlier this year in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office. The 24 hour helpline, which can be contacted on 0800 028 3550, provides advice and support to anyone concerned that a child is at risk of FGM. While caller details remain anonymous, any information that could protect a child from abuse and help pursue prosecutions is passed to the police or social services.
Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: “There is no justification for Female Genital Mutilation – it is child abuse and it is illegal.
“I am determined we do all we can to bring perpetrators to justice. The law in this country applies to absolutely everyone and political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing, uncovering and prosecuting FGM.
“We are working across government and with the Director of Public Prosecutions to help secure convictions, as well as with charities and frontline organisations to help improve awareness of this issue.
“We have also agreed to help fund a new study into the prevalence of FGM in the UK. This crime has no place in our society and I am resolute we do everything we can to end this abhorrent practice.”
This activity will build on the work already underway to stop FGM through the ‘ending violence against women and girls action plan’. This includes the publication of guidelines for teachers, social workers and the police on what to do if they are worried someone is at risk of FGM, the development of a FGM Resource Pack for local authorities and police and crime commissioners, and the launch of a comprehensive study into the prevalence of FGM in England and Wales.
The Home Office is also working closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions to help secure convictions, and with charities and frontline organisations to further improve awareness of the issue.
Following the delivery of this work the Home Office will also host an event to share effective practice and learning to support colleagues across the EU in improving their own response to FGM.
