Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Status: Closed Opened: 31 Jan 2025 Closed: 27 Apr 2026 18 recommendations 15 conclusions 1 report

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold a session in Parliament on Wednesday, 5 March to look at the prevalence and impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK and to examine the work of the UK Government to prevent FGM and to address the health consequences of survivors of FGM.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
7th Report - Female genital mutilation HC 714 12 Sep 2025 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
7 Conclusion 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Accepted in Part

Many FGM survivors lack access to appropriate specialist counselling services

FGM survivors often suffer psychosexual, emotional and mental health complications from undergoing FGM. However, many FGM survivors do not have access to appropriate counselling services, with many FGM services not offering any counselling to FGM survivors and others offering counselling which is not appropriate or tailored for their needs. (Conclusion, …

Government response. The government states FGM support clinics offer counselling, with local variation determined by ICBs. It highlights the ongoing expansion of NHS Talking Therapies, whose workforce receives training to support individuals impacted by abuse, including trauma-focused therapies, implicitly addressing the need …
Government Equalities Office
12 Recommendation 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Accepted in Part

Ensure FGM survivors are informed of interpretation rights and receive trained, culturally sensitive interpreters.

FGM Specialist Clinics and Women’s Health Hubs should ensure that women are informed of their right to have an interpreter. Those interpreters must be appropriately trained and sensitive to the cultural sensitivities around FGM. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) Reconstructive surgery

Government response. The government states that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS Providers are responsible for ensuring culturally sensitive interpretation services. NHS England will ask ICBs to share the working definition of trauma-informed practice with translation providers.
Government Equalities Office
18 Conclusion 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Accepted in Part

Vital FGM grassroots organisations face limited funding due to complex and competitive application processes.

Grassroots organisations, often run by FGM survivors from the affected communities, perform vital work in supporting FGM survivors and combatting FGM. However, they receive limited funding, must compete against one another, and can lack the capacity or expertise necessary to secure funding in complex application processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 59)

Government response. The government acknowledges the vital role of grassroots organisations and commits to delivering an FGM-focused campaign through specialist organizations. It has launched an 'Honour'-Based Abuse sector engagement group to collaborate with these organizations and will continue to ensure their perspectives …
Government Equalities Office
20 Recommendation 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Accepted in Part

Provide sustainable and accessible funding to small grassroots FGM prevention organisations.

The Government and local authorities should actively engage with and provide sustainable funding to small and grassroots organisations working on FGM to ensure they are able to carry out their work. The Government should ensure that applications for funding are accessible and inclusive for organisations that lack the resources to …

Government response. The government commits to active engagement with specialist and grassroots organizations through a new HBA sector engagement group and ensures their perspectives are considered in funded projects, including continued part-funding of a national helpline. However, it does not explicitly commit …
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
5 Mar 2025 Aissa Edon · FGM Hope Clinic, Angela Craggs · National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Gillian Squires Retd. Det. Con (W Midlands Police) · Honour Me Ltd, Grainne Boyle · NSPCC, Janet Fyle MBE · Royal College of Midwives, Juliet Albert · Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor Hassan Shehata · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Valerie Lolomari · Women of Grace UK View ↗

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
18 Dec 2025 Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development and Afr…
2 Dec 2025 Correspondence to Minister of State (Intl Development and Africa) Foreign, Comm…
17 Oct 2025 To cttee Corres. with Chief Scientific Advisor, DHSC & Secretary of State for Health and…
25 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and …
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister of State fo…
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG, re FGM, …
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education…