FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Early day motion 1169, tabled 21 November 2000 by Chris McCafferty (Labour). Signed by 77 members.

That this House condemns the practice of female genital mutilation which violates the human rights of girls and women to bodily integrity and has adverse health and social implications; notes that an estimated 130 million women and girls in the world have undergone FGM and that two million girls are at risk to undergoing some form of the procedure every year; further notes that in the UK women who have undergone FGM are increasingly presenting themselves to healthcare professional, and specialist clinics are treating hundreds of women with FGM-related complications; regrets that there have been no prosecutions under the UK Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985; welcomes the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and reproductive Health's Hearing's Report and Survey Analysis on FGM; and urges Her Majesty's Government to act on the recommendations in the Report and amend the existing law on FGM in the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 51, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 5, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1, Unknown 1.