Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
7th Report - Female genital mutilation
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 714
Published 12 September 2025
Recommendations
12
Accepted in Part
Ensure FGM survivors are informed of interpretation rights and receive trained, culturally sensitive interpreters.
Recommendation
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
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Government Response Summary
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
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20
Accepted in Part
Provide sustainable and accessible funding to small grassroots FGM prevention organisations.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 to sustainable funding levels or accessible funding application processes for these organisations.
Government Equalities Office
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Conclusions (2)
7
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
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 Summary
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 for appropriate mental health support for FGM survivors.
18
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
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 Summary
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 are considered in funded projects, though it cannot comment on future spending.