Religious leaders must fully back fight against FGM, says summit

 
Backing: International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone said religious leaders could force change
Rebecca Reid
14 January 2014

Britain’s first "faith summit" on female genital mutilation was taking place today in a new attempt to secure religious leaders’ help in the fight against the barbaric practice.

Muslim, Christian and other religious leaders were all called to the Whitehall meeting. Officials said the main aim was to encourage them to exert their influence to change the views of followers who believe that mutilation is necessary — and to stop those who carry out cutting.

Government ministers were also hoping that the meeting would help to identify any obstacles hindering efforts to protect girls and allow them to pass on information about the measures that charities, police and others are taking to prevent the crime.

There is concern that a widespread belief in some African countries that FGM is a religious duty is putting girls in the UK at risk. International development minister Lynne Featherstone, who was jointly hosting today’s meeting with Home Office minister Norman Baker, said it was essential that religious leaders gave full backing to the fight against FGM.

“Religious leaders have the access, the power and the influence to change things,” she said.

“If we don’t have their buy-in, their help and them championing this then we are not going to stop FGM. Changing religious beliefs is key to ending FGM.”

Among those attending the meeting were representatives from the Muslim Council of Britain, the Muslim Women’s Network, and Ajmal Masroor, an imam from Haringey.

The Church of England, Catholic, Jewish and Sikh representatives were also taking part, as well as charities such as Christian Aid and the anti-FGM organisation Equality Now.

Surveys have shown that more than half of girls in African countries such as Mali, Eritrea and Mauritania believe that mutilation is required as part of their religion. The practice, which can involve the removal of parts or all of the labia and clitoris, is also regarded as culturally necessary as a sign of purity in many African countries and among their diaspora communities in Britain.

The practice was made illegal in this country in 1985, but is thought by campaigners to remain prevalent because of the secrecy within affected communities and a lack of awareness among girls that mutilation should not be taking place.

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Government ministers hope that faith leaders who have contact with vulnerable girls, as well as influence over their families, will respond to today’s meeting by helping to change such attitudes and by bolstering the confidence of those who want to speak out against the practice.

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