FGM prevention failures
Reduction or lack of sustained funding for initiatives aimed at preventing and tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
35 items
3 sources
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#19 - Restore Home Office funding to £2 million annually for FGM prevention initiatives and support services.
Given the ongoing risk of FGM in the UK, we recommend the Home Office restore funding to previous levels—we recommend an annual spend of at least £2 million—and commit to sustained funding for initiatives aimed at preventing and tackling FGM. Targeted support should be provided to local authorities with higher levels of FGM prevalence to ensure they can...
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
91match
#25 - Review police and CPS strategies to increase FGM prosecution rates alongside prevention efforts.
The Government should continue to adopt an approach that looks at prevention and prosecution by funding and engaging with prevention efforts in local communities. Alongside this work, criminal justice agencies should review police intervention and CPS prosecution strategies with a view to increasing the prosecution rate for FGM. We acknowledge the challenges this involves, not least the willingness...
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
91match
#20 - 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 accessible and inclusive for organisations that lack the resources to navigate complex tendering processes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 61)
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
87match
#21 - School education on FGM is an essential and welcomed prevention method.
Education on FGM in schools is an essential means of preventing FGM. It can equip girls to advocate on behalf of themselves and to challenge prevailing orthodoxies on behalf of others. We welcome the current and future guidance on RHSE which includes content on the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM, where to find support, and the...
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
83match
#24 - A balance between FGM prevention and prosecution is crucial, rejecting cultural sensitivities.
While some FGM survivors and campaigners believe more needs to be done to secure convictions against perpetrators of FGM, others believe a strong focus on criminalisation can hinder efforts to engage with communities to prevent FGM and support FGM survivors. It is evident that to tackle FGM, the Government, local authorities and police must strike a balance between...
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
82match
#28 - Border monitoring for FGM prevention requires improved training, follow-up, and inter-agency communication.
Border monitoring is an effective mechanism for preventing FGM being carried out on UK citizens and residents taken abroad. However, evidence suggests that monitoring could be made better through improved training of border officials, better follow-up of suspected cases, and enhanced communication between different agencies. (Conclusion, Paragraph 83)
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
78match
#1 - FGM survivors often lack awareness of long-term health complications and care needs
Survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) experience profound physical, emotional and psychosexual consequences and require specialised care and support to manage these impacts. Despite this, survivors may not be aware that the health complications they experience are a consequence of FGM, meaning awareness among survivors of the long-term health implications of FGM is vital. (Conclusion, Paragraph 18)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
74match
#22 - Community education, involving influential leaders, effectively challenges FGM beliefs and raises awareness.
Education among communities can be an effective tool in challenging the beliefs that fuel FGM and in raising awareness of the serious health impacts of FGM. The effectiveness of these campaigns is likely to be increased when influential people within the community, such as religious leaders, are included in education and prevention efforts. (Conclusion, Paragraph 67)
Matched on
terms: fgm, prevention
Committee recommendation
70match
#33 - Protect FGM programmes from further funding reductions and publish future spending plans.
We call on the Government to protect FGM programmes from further reductions in funding. The Government should inform the Committee of its funding plans for programmes working on reducing FGM over the next spending period, including a comparison with previous periods. It should 46 also provide the Committee with any wider Equality Impact Assessment on the reduction of...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
70match
#32 - Reduced ODA funding threatens global FGM programmes and increases risk for UK citizens.
The continued prevalence of FGM globally increases the risk of FGM to current and future UK citizens and residents. Supporting international efforts to end FGM through aid programmes and diplomacy helps the UK fulfil its international obligations to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 and is a necessary step to reduce the risk of FGM occurring to UK citizens...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
70match
#18 - 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 secure funding in complex application processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 59)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
70match
#17 - FGM persists within UK and through travel abroad, undermined by inconsistent government funding.
It is a matter of serious concern that evidence given to us and available data indicate both that FGM is taking place in the UK and that UK citizens or residents are being taken abroad to undergo FGM. The Government must allocate sufficient resources to tackle this form of gender-based violence and, in most circumstances, violent child abuse....
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
70match
#5 - Lack of data and precarious funding for FGM services causing reduced focus
There is a notable lack of data on spending on FGM services but evidence to this Committee indicates that funding for FGM services may have reduced and remains precarious. There are also concerns that the integration of FGM services within the wider women’s health agenda has led to a reduced focus. (Conclusion, Paragraph 22)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
69match
#27 - Ensure professionals receive adequate training to confidently ask FGM questions and increase referrals.
The Government should ensure that professionals, such as teachers and healthcare professionals, are adequately trained to feel confident to ask questions around female genital mutilation in order to increase the number 45 of successful safeguarding referrals for FGM. This training should include how to broach sensitive subjects, and make clear that FGM is practised across a wide range...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#14 - Renew commitment to preventing female genital mutilation through targeted multilateral and bilateral programmes.
The UK Government has long been an opponent of female genital mutilation (FGM) and has worked against FGM both bilaterally and multilaterally. The UK Government should renew its commitment to preventing female genital mutilation through funding multilateral and bilateral programmes, including those tackling the medicalisation of FGM and ‘cross-border cutting’, which involves moving women and girls across national...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#30 - FGM Protection Order usage remains low despite their effectiveness and high risk of FGM.
FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs) can be an effective way of supporting FGM survivors and preventing FGM. Although the data on FGM protection orders is incomplete, the number of FGMPOs appears low, especially when compared to estimations of the number of girls at risk of FGM in the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#23 - Fund tailored community-led education programmes to challenge cultural beliefs driving FGM.
The Government and local authorities should fund community-led education programmes to challenge the cultural and social beliefs that drive FGM. These programmes must be tailored to reflect the specific drivers of FGM within different communities. Education must include the health consequences of FGM and be targeted at those who drive FGM within communities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68) Preventing FGM:...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#16 - Commission urgent research into UK FGM prevalence and ensure NHS records vital data consistently.
The Government should immediately commission research into the number of women with FGM in the UK, including on prevalence within local areas. It must make this data accessible so that local authorities and health providers can provide their services accordingly. The NHS should ensure that data on the country of birth and the country where FGM was undertaken...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#15 - Government lacks up-to-date, localised data on FGM prevalence, hindering effective service delivery.
To tackle FGM and be able to provide services based on need, the Government, local authorities and healthcare providers need to understand the prevalence of FGM within the UK. The most recent study on FGM prevalence in England and Wales was published in 2015 and was based on 2011 census data. It is a significant oversight that the...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#13 - Government obstructs FGM reconstructive surgery by failing to fund necessary research.
Many women who have undergone FGM seek reconstructive surgery to reverse FGM as far as possible. It is clear that the NHS is equipped to perform this surgery as it delivers it for other medical conditions. We acknowledge that the current medical evidence supporting reconstructive surgery for FGM survivors may be limited. However, it is unreasonable for the...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#11 - FGM survivors are often unaware of interpretation rights and face unsuitable interpreter services.
FGM survivors are not consistently being made aware that they are entitled to interpretation services. However, interpretation services that are available can be unsuitable and interpreters can lack the necessary 42 proficiency to advocate on behalf of survivors. This can lead to survivors relying on family members which can prevent open communication. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#6 - Ensure sufficient funding, publish spending, and collect data on FGM survivor services
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) should ensure sufficient funding is available to meet local demand for services tailored to the needs of FGM survivors. Spending on FGM services should be published and data collected at a local and national level to help build up a comprehensive picture of demand for and funding of FGM services. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
66match
#2 - Inconsistent FGM survivor services and poor referral pathways create postcode lottery
Services for FGM survivors and access to them remains inconsistent across the UK. While some variation in access to services may be expected in line with local prevalence, there is a lack of effective referral pathways. This has created a postcode lottery that risks leaving women and girls without the essential support and care they need. (Conclusion, Paragraph...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
62match
#14 - Fund urgent research into FGM reconstructive surgery effectiveness, with NHS provision if proven beneficial.
The Government should facilitate and fund research into the effectiveness of reconstructive surgery for FGM survivors as a matter of priority. If evidence indicates that the surgery is effective, then the NHS should provide it. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44) Estimating the prevalence of FGM
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
62match
#10 - Mandate comprehensive FGM training for healthcare professionals, including cultural sensitivity and signposting.
FGM training should be made mandatory for midwives and other healthcare professionals working in services where they are likely to encounter FGM survivors. That training should include how to treat survivors with appropriate sensitivity. Staff working in FGM Specialist Clinics and Women’s Health Hubs should be able to signpost survivors to non-health related local services where necessary such...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
62match
#4 - Ensure all FGM survivors access timely, essential support and specialist care nationwide
The Government should ensure that all FGM survivors can access the essential support and care they need in a timely manner. While some variation in service provision may be necessary to reflect local prevalence rates, higher-prevalence areas should offer funded multidisciplinary services that allow quick access to specialist care. In lower-prevalence areas, there must be clear referral pathways...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
62match
#3 - Raise awareness among FGM survivors of consequences using Women's Health Hubs
The NHS should use Women’s Health Hubs, as well as other relevant points of contact such as sexual health services and sexual assault referral centres, to raise awareness among survivors of the potential consequences of FGM and the benefits of seeking medical advice. (Recommendation, Paragraph 20)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
61match
#31 - Encourage FGM Protection Order use by increasing awareness among children's social services.
The Ministry of Justice should encourage the use of FGMPOs by working with the Department for Education to increase awareness among children’s social services of FGMPOs and the criteria needed to obtain one. We welcome the MoJ’s plans to ensure that its data on FGM Protection Orders is up to date. (Recommendation, Paragraph 89) Preventing FGM globally
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
61match
#7 - 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 which is not appropriate or tailored for their needs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 27)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
57match
#29 - Provide FGM training to border officials and foster inter-departmental engagement for effective case monitoring.
The Home Office should ensure that border officials have sufficient training on FGM to ensure they can identify potential cases and intervene when necessary. There should also be close engagement between departments, such as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office, and the Department for Education, including social services, to ensure that suspected cases are monitored effectively....
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
57match
#26 - Low FGM safeguarding referrals due to professionals' lack of confidence and training.
Evidence suggests that safeguarding referrals are low. Professionals often lack the confidence to ask questions and get the necessary information from the families of the women and girls affected. Some professionals may also be reluctant to ask questions due to fears of appearing to be culturally insensitive, and there is a lack of training around asking such questions....
Matched on
terms: fgm
CQC action
56match
Meet The Baby
The provider should ensure that all staff have undertaken training in female genital mutilation (FGM).
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
53match
#9 - FGM survivors experience shame in healthcare due to inadequate cultural sensitivity training.
Evidence suggests some FGM survivors are experiencing shame or humiliation in healthcare settings, reducing the likelihood of them engaging further with healthcare services essential to their physical and mental wellbeing. Training for midwives and healthcare professionals is not mandatory and often does not include practical advice on how to ask questions and discuss FGM in a culturally sensitive...
Matched on
terms: fgm
Committee recommendation
53match
#8 - Ensure FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling with clear referral pathways
The Government should ensure that all FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling support to FGM survivors in appropriate settings, provided by counsellors who are trained in the specific challenges of FGM. There should be clear referral pathways to this counselling for women who access FGM services through Women’s Health Hubs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 28)
Matched on
terms: fgm
Detention investigation recommendation
44match
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons - Rec 9
I recommend that there should be a presumption against detention for victims of rape and other sexual or gender-‐based violence. (For the avoidance of doubt, I include victims of FGM as coming within this definition.)
Matched on
terms: fgm