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Make London an FGM free-zone, says assembly to mayor

Xinhua, April 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

A drive to make London a zero tolerance city for female genital mutilation (FGM) was announced Tuesday in a report by the London Assembly.

The report shows that half of all FGMs recorded in England are carried out in the British capital.

It warned that 65,000 girls under the age of 13 were at risk of having the procedure preformed on them in Britain, and says an estimated 170,000 women and girls are already living with FGM in Britain.

The report names several London boroughs as among the 12 local authorities nationally with the highest recorded incidences FGM.

In its new report "Tackling Female Genital Mutilation in London," the assembly called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to support frontline professionals with a responsibility for tackling FGM to work together to make London a"zero cutting city."

The report follows a conference held by the assembly which brought together practitioners from the health, social care, and education sectors, in addition to police. It found that many frontline professionals are unsure of how to respond, greater coordination at a regional level is needed, and community groups are key to safeguarding women and girls.

In its recommendations, the assembly wants Khan to take a visible lead in tackling FGM, with police and crime plan to demonstrate a commitment and a multi-agency response to FGM.

It also calls for a pan-London awareness campaign on the issue, to help guide women and girls to the support they require.

Deputy chair of the London Assembly, Jennette Arnold, said: "FGM is a crime and a form of violence against women and girls that violates their basic human rights. It has very serious, immediate, and long-term consequences, both physically and emotionally. There are no medical or health reasons for anyone to be subjected to FGM.

FGM largely remains a hidden crime, still taking place behind closed doors, with many girls still at risk, she said.

The Mayor has said that tackling FGM was an important part of his mayoralty and a practice that he would not tolerate.

FGM survivor and campaigner Hibo Wardere, said: "Those working in schools, in the health profession and in social care are in a prime position to identify survivors and women and girls who are at risk. It's vital they know how to respond. As an FGM survivor and someone who has been campaigning against the practice for many years, I'm proud to have influenced the assembly's work in this area." Endit