Britain has highest rate of FGM in Europe, with 30,000 girls at risk

About 65,790 people living in the UK have been victims of FGM More girls are at risk of genital mutilation in Britain than anywhere else in Europe, according to recent figures published last week. About 65,790 people living in the UK have been victims of the practice, while a further 30,000 are at risk, according to new research.Today the Government pledged £35m to help eradicate female genital mutilation within a generation. International development minister Lynne Featherstone announced the fund, which will pay for overseas programmes and work with diaspora communities within Britain.
The target is to reduce FGM by 30 percent in five years, and to stop it completely within a generation.
Meanwhile, a separate EU campaign has also been launched, with £13m to help victims. Viviane Reding, vice-president of the European Commission, met campaigners against FGM to discuss how to tackle the issue, ahead of International Women’s Day on Friday.
“Today the Commission is joining forces with some very inspiring women to call for zero tolerance for female genital mutilation, an extremely harmful practice which violates the human rights of women and girls,” said Reding.
“The EU will fight to end female genital mutilation — not only on International Women’s Day but on all 365 days of the year,” she added.
The research, carried out by the European Institute for Gender Equality, found there were victims or potential victims in at least 13 EU countries – with Britain having the highest numbers, followed by France and the Netherlands.
Each year about 6,500 girls in London, mostly aged between four and 15, are thought to be at risk of FGM.
All EU member states have laws against FGM, but prosecutions are extremely rare, the institute’s report said. This is mainly because of the reluctance to report the crime and lack of knowledge about what female genital mutilation is.
The practice involves the surgical removal of some or all of the female genitalia, and, in severe cases, stitching up or narrowing the vagina. It can lead to major health problems, including infections, difficulty passing urine, painful intercourse and childbirth, and even fatal haemorrhaging. Imkaan, a UK-based organisation representing black and ethnic minority women, called for all teachers to be trained to help girls who are facing FGM.
Today the European Commission launched a public consultation on Europe-wide measures to combat it.  Ms Reding said: “Legislation prohibiting the practice is already in place in all EU states. We need to complement this by raising awareness of the detrimental effects on the psychological and physical health of women and girls, and pro-viding support services for victims. Our top priority should be prevention.”
The leading campaigners meeting Ms Reding are Somali model Waris Dirie, Senegal’s Khady Koita, and Chantal Compaoré, the first lady of Burkina Faso.