Theresa May told to ‘set up unit to tackle FGM like forced marriage’

Theresa May has been urged to set up a special unit to investigate female genital mutilation, similar to the Home Office’s forced marriage unit.

London MEP Marina Yannakoudakis and a group of campaigners wrote to the Home Secretary calling for FGM to be tackled in the same way as forced marriage because there are parallels between the crimes.

The Home Office set up a Forced Marriage Unit in 2005, which operates both inside the UK and abroad. It runs a helpline for victims and for professionals who deal with cases.

Ms Yannakoudakis said: “There are parallels between the issues of FGM and forced marriage.

“Both are problems within particular sections of society and in both cases there has been an awkwardness in the broader community over how to respond. But both issues involve the imposition of the will of misguided adults, usually men, on unfortunate females, usually young girls. Cruelly, in both cases, the imposition can create lifelong pain and anguish.”

The letter comes after a group of FGM survivors, campaigners and academics met in London to discuss the best ways to stamp out the practice.

Ms Yannakoudakis, who organised the meeting, said the group called for migrants coming to the UK to sign a declaration stating they understand that FGM is illegal.

They also called for better training of doctors, nurses and midwives so they can treat survivors.

The letter to Mrs May said: “The purpose of our meeting was to allow women, and men, of the different communities in London to come together in an informal environment and to share their experiences of FGM and how best we can stop this form of abuse.”

Professor Hazel Barrett, of Coventry University, who signed the letter, said: “If the Government is serious about ending FGM then it must be seen to be treating FGM with the same determination and resources that it has done with forced marriage. Setting up an FGM Unit would send a clear signal.”

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: “Female genital mutilation is an appalling crime and we are absolutely committed to preventing it... We will consider the points raised in Marina Yannakoudakis’s letter.”

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