FGM prevention failures
Reduction or lack of sustained funding for initiatives aimed at preventing and tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
35 items
3 sources
Source spread
Where this theme appears
FGM prevention failures has been flagged across 3 independent accountability sources:
33 committee recs
1 CQC action
1 detention investigation rec
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Committee Recommendations (33)
#33 — Protect FGM programmes from further funding reductions and publish future spending plans.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Official Development Assistance (ODA) Funding The FCDO’s flagship programme on ending FGM The Girl Generation-Africa-Led Movement to End FGM concludes in October 2026, and there are currently no plans for future funding. In addition to …
Not Accepted
#32 — Reduced ODA funding threatens global FGM programmes and increases risk for UK citizens.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Official Development Assistance (ODA) Funding The FCDO’s flagship programme on ending FGM The Girl Generation-Africa-Led Movement to End FGM concludes in October 2026, and there are currently no plans for future funding. In addition to …
Not Addressed
#30 — FGM Protection Order usage remains low despite their effectiveness and high risk of FGM.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs) are a vital tool to support the prevention of FGM and the protection of victims. Data on FGM Protection Orders is published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice, as part …
Accepted
#25 — Review police and CPS strategies to increase FGM prosecution rates alongside prevention efforts.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. To do this, prevention and prosecution must be …
Accepted
#24 — A balance between FGM prevention and prosecution is crucial, rejecting cultural sensitivities.
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. To do this, prevention and prosecution must be …
Accepted
#23 — Fund tailored community-led education programmes to challenge cultural beliefs driving FGM.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Accepted
#22 — Community education, involving influential leaders, effectively challenges FGM beliefs and raises awareness.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Accepted
#21 — School education on FGM is an essential and welcomed prevention method.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Not Addressed
#20 — Provide sustainable and accessible funding to small grassroots FGM prevention organisations.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Partially Accepted
#19 — Restore Home Office funding to £2 million annually for FGM prevention initiatives and support services.
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Not Addressed
#18 — Vital FGM grassroots organisations face limited funding due to complex and competitive application processes.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Partially Accepted
#17 — FGM persists within UK and through travel abroad, undermined by inconsistent government funding.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs of …
Not Addressed
#16 — Commission urgent research into UK FGM prevalence and ensure NHS records vital data consistently.
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: Improving the Government’s understanding of the numbers of people affected by FGM is vital to help us to better ensure there is adequate support available. In August 2025, the Home Office announced six measures to …
Accepted
#15 — Government lacks up-to-date, localised data on FGM prevalence, hindering effective service delivery.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Improving the Government’s understanding of the numbers of people affected by FGM is vital to help us to better ensure there is adequate support available. In August 2025, the Home Office announced six measures to …
Accepted
#14 — Fund urgent research into FGM reconstructive surgery effectiveness, with NHS provision if proven beneficial.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: We agree this is an important area of research and are in the process of taking the recommendation forward. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is developing a call in this area …
Accepted
#13 — Government obstructs FGM reconstructive surgery by failing to fund necessary research.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: We agree this is an important area of research and are in the process of taking the recommendation forward. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is developing a call in this area …
Accepted
#11 — FGM survivors are often unaware of interpretation rights and face unsuitable interpreter services.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS Providers are responsible for ensuring translation and interpretation services are available for all patients accessing primary care. As part of NHS England’s Improvement framework: community language translation and interpreting …
Accepted
#10 — Mandate comprehensive FGM training for healthcare professionals, including cultural sensitivity and signposting.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: It is vital that all professionals with statutory safeguarding responsibilities such as the police, teachers and healthcare professionals have the right training and framework to identify victims and perpetrators of FGM and manage them effectively. …
Accepted
#6 — Ensure sufficient funding, publish spending, and collect data on FGM survivor services
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: ICBs Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so - this includes services tailored to the needs …
Accepted
#5 — Lack of data and precarious funding for FGM services causing reduced focus
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: . Response: The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. To do this, prevention and prosecution …
Accepted
#4 — Ensure all FGM survivors access timely, essential support and specialist care nationwide
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: Integrated Care Boards and NHS Trusts commission FGM support clinics which offer a range of services to support women affected by FGM including physical treatment, counselling and further referrals to urology, gynaecology etc. depending …
Accepted
#3 — Raise awareness among FGM survivors of consequences using Women's Health Hubs
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: It is vital that all professionals with statutory safeguarding responsibilities such as the police, teachers and healthcare professionals have the right training and framework to identify victims and perpetrators of FGM and manage them …
Not Addressed
#2 — Inconsistent FGM survivor services and poor referral pathways create postcode lottery
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Integrated Care Boards and NHS Trusts commission FGM support clinics which offer a range of services to support women affected by FGM including physical treatment, counselling and further referrals to urology, gynaecology etc. depending on …
Accepted
#1 — FGM survivors often lack awareness of long-term health complications and care needs
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: . Response: We agree this is an important area of research and are in the process of taking the recommendation forward. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is developing a call in …
Accepted
#14 — Renew commitment to preventing female genital mutilation through targeted multilateral and bilateral programmes.
Recommendation: 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, …
Gov response: Agree 49. The FCDO remains a major donor and global champion for ending FGM. UK aid programmes have already helped over 10,000 communities, representing over 27 million people, pledge to abandon FGM. We are building …
Accepted
#31 — Encourage FGM Protection Order use by increasing awareness among children's social services.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs) are a vital tool to support the prevention of FGM and the protection of victims. Data on FGM Protection Orders is published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice, as part …
Accepted
#29 — Provide FGM training to border officials and foster inter-departmental engagement for effective case monitoring.
Recommendation: 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, …
Gov response: Response: Border Force has a key role in identifying victims and perpetrators of FGM as they cross the UK border. Border officials receive training in how to identify and deal with any vulnerable person including …
Accepted
#28 — Border monitoring for FGM prevention requires improved training, follow-up, and inter-agency communication.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: Border Force has a key role in identifying victims and perpetrators of FGM as they cross the UK border. Border officials receive training in how to identify and deal with any vulnerable person including …
Accepted
#27 — Ensure professionals receive adequate training to confidently ask FGM questions and increase referrals.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: It is vital that all professionals with statutory safeguarding responsibilities such as the police, teachers and healthcare professionals have the right training and framework to identify victims and perpetrators of FGM and manage them …
Accepted
#7 — Many FGM survivors lack access to appropriate specialist counselling services
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: Integrated Care Boards and NHS Trusts commission FGM support clinics which offer a range of services to support women affected by FGM including physical treatment, counselling and further referrals to urology, gynaecology etc. depending …
Partially Accepted
#26 — Low FGM safeguarding referrals due to professionals' lack of confidence and training.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: It is vital that all professionals with statutory safeguarding responsibilities such as the police, teachers and healthcare professionals have the right training and framework to identify victims and perpetrators of FGM and manage them …
Accepted
#9 — FGM survivors experience shame in healthcare due to inadequate cultural sensitivity training.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: It is vital that all professionals with statutory safeguarding responsibilities such as the police, teachers and healthcare professionals have the right training and framework to identify victims and perpetrators of FGM and manage them …
Accepted
#8 — Ensure FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling with clear referral pathways
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Response: Integrated Care Boards and NHS Trusts commission FGM support clinics which offer a range of services to support women affected by FGM including physical treatment, counselling and further referrals to urology, gynaecology etc. depending …
Not Addressed