Department of Health
Public health minister Jane Ellison has launched an FGM prevention week of action and is urging health and care professionals to help prevent FGM. It was launched at the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM National Conference.
There are currently 60,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years living in the UK who are potentially at risk of FGM.
Jane Ellison said:
I am immensely proud of the progress that has been made over the recent years to protect and care for women and girls who are affected by FGM. For the first time we have started collecting information about the number of patients the NHS is treating with FGM.
We have introduced guidance on how to protect young girls and care for women who have already undergone FGM. And we have brought into legislation a clear new duty of when to report to the police cases of FGM in children.
However there is still more to do and FGM prevention week is an opportunity for everybody to use this knowledge and guidance and take positive action to end FGM. We want to end FGM in a generation in the UK.
This week, whether you are a health or social care professional, a member of an FGM practising community or an FGM survivor, we would like you to think about your own role and what more you can do to help prevent FGM in your area.
FGM prevention week is to mark the annual International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on 6 February. It will run from 8 to 12 February 2016 and will focus on a different aspect of FGM prevention work each day:
- Tuesday 9 February: mandatory reporting
- Wednesday 10 February: communities and survivors
- Thursday 11 February: training
- Friday 12 February: mental health
See ideas and resources to help you prevent FGM and raise the profile of it in your area during FGM prevention week.
Follow and take part in the FGM prevention week of action on Twitter using the hashtag #endFGM