Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
A balance between FGM prevention and prosecution is crucial, rejecting cultural sensitivities.
Recommendation
While some FGM survivors and campaigners believe more needs to be done to secure convictions against perpetrators of FGM, others believe a strong focus on criminalisation can hinder efforts to engage with communities to prevent FGM and support FGM survivors. It is evident that to tackle FGM, the Government, local authorities and police must strike a balance between prevention and prosecution. However, the message needs to be clear that cultural sensitivities are irrelevant when it comes to violent, gender-based abuse, that more often than not is perpetrated against a child, and that survivors will be supported in seeking justice. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government will convene a Ministerial roundtable with relevant departments to explore improving FGM prevention and prosecution efforts and multi-agency working. The CPS has also developed an Action Plan, including National Scrutiny Panels and a multi-agency conference, to strengthen oversight and update FGM case protocols.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government’s approach to tackling FGM is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice. To do this, prevention and prosecution must be central as part of a whole-system response. The Home Office will jointly with the Attorney General’s Office convene a Ministerial roundtable with all relevant Government departments to explore what more the Government can do to tackle FGM and improve multi-agency working. This will have improving prevention and prosecution efforts at the centre. The Home Office is currently unable to comment on spending beyond March 2026 as this is subject to the departmental allocations process following the recent Spending Review, which is yet to conclude. To strengthen oversight and governance of ‘honour’-based abuse, forced marriage and FGM cases, the Crown Prosecution Service has developed a dedicated Action Plan, which includes the introduction of National Scrutiny Panels and a second national multi-agency conference to raise awareness and promote effective partnership working. These activities will inform updates to the NPCC–CPS joint protocols on the handling of FGM cases, ensuring investigators and prosecutors are equipped with the tools, training and guidance needed to prosecute these cases and secure justice for victims.