Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 31 Jan 2025 Closed: 27 Apr 2026 Parliament page
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold a session in Parliament on Wednesday, 5 March to look at the prevalence and impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK and to examine the work of the UK Government to prevent FGM and to address the health consequences of survivors of FGM.
18 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
7 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 11 events
18 Dec
2025
Correspondence
2 Dec
2025
Report published
2 Dec
2025
Correspondence
17 Oct
2025
Correspondence
12 Sep
2025
Report published
25 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
5 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
5 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
5 Mar 2025
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Women and Equalities Committee
Aissa Edon · FGM Hope Clinic Angela Craggs · National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Gillian Squires Retd. Det. Con (W Midlands Police) · Honour Me Ltd Grainne Boyle · NSPCC Janet Fyle MBE · Royal College of Midwives Juliet Albert · Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Professor Hassan Shehata · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Valerie Lolomari · Women of Grace UK
Title HC No. Published Items Response
7th Report - Female genital mutilation HC 714 12 Sep 2025 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
7 Conclusion Accepted in Part
7th Report - Female genital mutila…
Many FGM survivors lack access to appropriate specialist counselling services
FGM survivors often suffer psychosexual, emotional and mental health complications from undergoing FGM. However, many FGM survivors do not have access to appropriate counselling services, with many FGM services not offering any counselling to FGM survivors and others offering counselling … Read more
Government Response
The government states FGM support clinics offer counselling, with local variation determined by ICBs. It highlights the ongoing expansion of NHS Talking Therapies, whose workforce receives training to support individuals impacted by abuse, including trauma-focused therapies, implicitly addressing the need for appropriate mental health support for FGM survivors.
Government Equalities Office
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12 Recommendation Accepted in Part
7th Report - Female genital mutila…
Ensure FGM survivors are informed of interpretation rights and receive trained, culturally sensitive interpreters.
FGM Specialist Clinics and Women’s Health Hubs should ensure that women are informed of their right to have an interpreter. Those interpreters must be appropriately trained and sensitive to the cultural sensitivities around FGM. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) Reconstructive surgery Read more
Government Response
The government states that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS Providers are responsible for ensuring culturally sensitive interpretation services. NHS England will ask ICBs to share the working definition of trauma-informed practice with translation providers.
Government Equalities Office
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18 Conclusion Accepted in Part
7th Report - Female genital mutila…
Vital FGM grassroots organisations face limited funding due to complex and competitive application processes.
Grassroots organisations, often run by FGM survivors from the affected communities, perform vital work in supporting FGM survivors and combatting FGM. However, they receive limited funding, must compete against one another, and can lack the capacity or expertise necessary to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vital role of grassroots organisations and commits to delivering an FGM-focused campaign through specialist organizations. It has launched an 'Honour'-Based Abuse sector engagement group to collaborate with these organizations and will continue to ensure their perspectives are considered in funded projects, though it cannot comment on future spending.
Government Equalities Office
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20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
7th Report - Female genital mutila…
Provide sustainable and accessible funding to small grassroots FGM prevention organisations.
The Government and local authorities should actively engage with and provide sustainable funding to small and grassroots organisations working on FGM to ensure they are able to carry out their work. The Government should ensure that applications for funding are … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to active engagement with specialist and grassroots organizations through a new HBA sector engagement group and ensures their perspectives are considered in funded projects, including continued part-funding of a national helpline. However, it does not explicitly commit to sustainable funding levels or accessible funding application processes for these organisations.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 18 classified
Accepted 22
Accepted in Part 4
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 1
Total 18 recs + 15 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
18 Dec 2025 Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development and Africa regarding Aid spending on ending FGM, dated December 2025
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2 Dec 2025 Correspondence to Minister of State (Intl Development and Africa) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, re Aid spending on ending FGM, dated 28.11.2025
Parliament page
17 Oct 2025 To committee Corres. with Chief Scientific Advisor, DHSC & Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Response from Baroness Merron, re Reconstructive surgery for FGM survivors, dated 8.10.2025
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25 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, re Female genital mutilation, dated 20 March 2025
Parliament page
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister of State for Development, FCDO, re Female genital mutilation, dated 5 March 2025
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19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG, re FGM, dated 5 March 2025
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19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, re FGM, dated 10 March 2025
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