Today, February 6, is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
FGM is an abhorrent practice that violates the human rights of women and girls and causes grievous physical and emotional harm. The UN estimates that at least 200 million women and girls worldwide have undergone some form of FGM, and that a further 15 million 15-19 year olds are at risk of being subjected to it by 2030.
The Mayor and I are committed to tackling FGM as part of our work to drive down violence against women and girls in London.
This is a widespread issue in our global city, with thousands of girls at risk in our city, and it is crucial to raise awareness amongst parents about the dangers to their daughters.
And for too long, there has been a lack of understanding among frontline professionals and inconsistencies in the way these crimes are recorded, meaning that people are not being prosecuted for these barbaric practices. This has to change.
We are working with a range of partners including the police, schools, health services and local communities, to spread the message that this is an illegal, unacceptable practice.
We’ve also invested £250,000 in a pilot scheme across five boroughs, providing specialist training to frontline workers who encounter women at risk of, or who have experienced, harmful practices like FGM.
We will continue to support the fight to end FGM throughout our time in office, and tackling violence against women and girls in all of its forms is a key priority in the Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan, currently out for consultation.
We want to hear what you think - if you’d like to get involved and have your say on FGM or any other issues of crime and safety in London, visit: www.london.gov.uk/police-plan
Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime