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Select committee: Home Affairs Committee

Female Genital Mutilation inquiry

Closed Opened 7 Jun 2016 Closed 14 Feb 2017

Home Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Home Affairs Committee says everyone involved in protecting children must be made aware of, and prevent, female genital mutilation (FGM), a form of child abuse when practiced on girls. The duty on frontline professionals to report incidences of FGM must be enforced with stronger sanctions. Government Response Government Response: Female genital mutilation: abuse unchecked The Government Response was published by the Home Office as a Command paper on 1 December 2016.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 7 June 2016.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 9th Report - Female genital mutilation: abuse unchecked on 15 September 2016.

The government's response

Published 1 December 2016.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government states that it "shares the Committee's determination to eradicate this appalling crime", while responding to individual recommendations with a mix of agreement on one point, descriptions of existing action, and refusals to adopt specific proposals.

  • It "agrees with the Committee's assessment" that a blanket policy of medical examinations for all girls would not be appropriate, while noting that girls at high risk may be required to have examinations where "necessary for their protection or wellbeing".
  • On a single FGM unit with sole policy responsibility, it describes existing cross-Government coordination and says it "will continue to look at options" for coordinating work as effectively as possible.
  • On further legislation to secure prosecutions, it states it has "no current plans to legislate further" but will "keep the matter under review".
  • On publishing quarterly reports, it says it "would not be appropriate" to share or publish reports on live police investigations. On PSHE becoming compulsory, it says the case for further action is "actively under review".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 12 July 2016
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date Session and witnesses Source
12 Jul 2016
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗