Today marks the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Prevention Week.
Launched by public health minister Jane Ellison, the week aims to raise awareness of the scale and impact of FGM, as well as drive home the ongoing need to protect women and girls from the harmful and illegal practice.
From the 8th to the 12th of February, the Department of Health (DoH) has been sharing resources and information for health and care professionals who encounter FGM in the course of their work, as well as information for FGM survivors and members of FGM-practising communities.
In the words of Jane Ellison,
“FGM is an abusive and illegal practice that can devastate lives and cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls.”
Unfortunately, FGM is a very real and pressing issue in the UK and throughout the rest of the world. There are currently 60,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years living in the UK who may be at risk of FGM, and whose lives could be forever altered by the practice.
Speaking about the Department of Health’s initiative, Jane Ellison expressed her hope that this week of awareness would help the UK to take real steps towards addressing the issue.
“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.”
You can find the resources shared by the DoH as part of their FGM Prevention Week here.
Finally, you can read more about the Department of Health’s activities aimed at preventing FGM here.