Hundreds of new FGM cases – but still no convictions
Never before published figures reveal the scale of female genital mutilation in England, with the number of women currently being treated by the NHS approaching 2,000.
Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show there were 467 newly identified cases of FGM in English hospitals in September.
This adds to 1,279 active cases – women with a history of FGM who are currently being treated by the NHS for FGM-related or non-related issues.
It is the first time such data has been published in the UK, and HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said the data is an important step towards preventing the crime.
FGM has been a crime in the UK for 30 years, but to date there have been no convictions for subjecting women – and more often young girls – to the practice.
The first trial, of two men including a doctor from London, is due to begin in January next year.
The HSCIC figures show that women with a history of FGM are more likely to be found in London – though the problem is spread across the country.
Last week columnist Caitlin Moran and FGM campaigner Nimco Ali spoke to Channel 4 News about a campaign to end FGM in the UK.
FGM, also known as female genital cutting, is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and 15 years old.
It is most common in the western, eastern and north eastern regions in Africa and more than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk from FGM annually in Africa.
More than 125 million girls and women alive today are estimated to have undergone FGM in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.