Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Status: Closed Opened: 31 Jan 2025 Closed: 31 Jul 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
3 Recommendation 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Not Addressed

Raise awareness among FGM survivors of consequences using Women's Health Hubs

The NHS should use Women’s Health Hubs, as well as other relevant points of contact such as sexual health services and sexual assault referral centres, to raise awareness among survivors of the potential consequences of FGM and the benefits of seeking medical advice. (Recommendation, Paragraph 20) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on training professionals (police, teachers, healthcare staff) to identify and manage FGM cases and providing existing safeguarding guidance. It does not directly address using Women's Health Hubs to raise awareness among survivors about FGM consequences.
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Government Equalities Office
8 Recommendation 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Not Addressed

Ensure FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling with clear referral pathways

The Government should ensure that all FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling support to FGM survivors in appropriate settings, provided by counsellors who are trained in the specific challenges of FGM. There should be clear referral pathways to this counselling for women who access FGM services through Women’s Health Hubs. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government describes existing FGM support clinics offering counselling and notes the expansion of NHS Talking Therapies with trauma-focused training. However, it does not specifically commit to ensuring all FGM Support Clinics offer specialist counselling by FGM-trained counsellors or establishing clear referral pathways from Women’s …
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Government Equalities Office
21 Conclusion 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Not Addressed

School education on FGM is an essential and welcomed prevention method.

Education on FGM in schools is an essential means of preventing FGM. It can equip girls to advocate on behalf of themselves and to challenge prevailing orthodoxies on behalf of others. We welcome the current and future guidance on RHSE which includes content on the physical and emotional damage caused … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses commissioning of FGM services by ICBs, funding for campaigns and helplines, and engagement with grassroots organizations, none of which directly address the committee's observation about FGM education in schools.
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Government Equalities Office
32 Conclusion 7th Report - Female genital mutilation Not Addressed

Reduced ODA funding threatens global FGM programmes and increases risk for UK citizens.

The continued prevalence of FGM globally increases the risk of FGM to current and future UK citizens and residents. Supporting international efforts to end FGM through aid programmes and diplomacy helps the UK fulfil its international obligations to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 and is a necessary step to reduce … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the FCDO's flagship FGM programme concludes in October 2026 with no plans for future funding. It notes that FGM is also addressed through wider Gender-Based Violence programming and that an Equality Impact Assessment on ODA allocations was published.
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Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
1 Jul 2026 Baroness Merron · Department of Health and Social Care, Professor Lucy Chappell · Department of Health and Social Care, Prof. Ramani Moonesinghe · NHS England, Prof. Ramani Moonesinghe · NHS England View ↗
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 ↗

Who gave evidence

11 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Prof. Ramani Moonesinghe · National Clinical Director for Perioperative and … NHS England 2
Aissa Edon · Midwife and founder FGM Hope Clinic 1
Angela Craggs · Deputy National Lead for Harmful Practice National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) 1
Baroness Merron · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women'… Department of Health and Social Care 1
Gillian Squires Retd. Det. Con (W Midlands Police) · Director Honour Me Ltd 1
Grainne Boyle · Helpline Practice Manager NSPCC 1
Janet Fyle MBE · Professional Policy Advisor Royal College of Midwives 1
Juliet Albert · Specialist FGM Midwife Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 1
Professor Hassan Shehata · Senior and Global Health Vice President Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) 1
Professor Lucy Chappell · Chief Scientific Adviser Department of Health and Social Care 1
Valerie Lolomari · Founder Women of Grace UK 1

Correspondence

8 letters
DateDirectionTitle
24 Jun 2026 Correspondence from Chief Scientific Adviser at DHSC and CEO of NIHR re FGM rec…
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 Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education…
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, …