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FGM summit: Cameron calls for end 'in this generation' | FGM summit: Cameron calls for end 'in this generation' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
David Cameron has said female genital mutilation (FGM) and childhood forced marriage should be stopped worldwide "within this generation". | David Cameron has said female genital mutilation (FGM) and childhood forced marriage should be stopped worldwide "within this generation". |
Speaking at a global summit in London, the prime minister said Britain had no "special magic" to stop the practices - so global action was needed. | Speaking at a global summit in London, the prime minister said Britain had no "special magic" to stop the practices - so global action was needed. |
Mr Cameron has also unveiled a range of measures to tackle FGM in the UK. | Mr Cameron has also unveiled a range of measures to tackle FGM in the UK. |
As part of this, parents in England and Wales will face prosecution if they fail to stop daughters undergoing FGM. | As part of this, parents in England and Wales will face prosecution if they fail to stop daughters undergoing FGM. |
The changes will not apply in Scotland, but the Scottish government said it would "carefully consider" Mr Cameron's announcement to "establish what steps could be applied" to protect women and girls there. | |
'Power of convening' | |
Mr Cameron told the Girl Summit the existence of the practices were "standing rebukes to our world". | Mr Cameron told the Girl Summit the existence of the practices were "standing rebukes to our world". |
"It is absolutely clear about what we are trying to achieve," he said. | "It is absolutely clear about what we are trying to achieve," he said. |
"It is such a simple but noble and good ambition and that is to outlaw the practices of female genital mutilation, and childhood and early forced marriage, to outlaw them everywhere for everyone within this generation." | "It is such a simple but noble and good ambition and that is to outlaw the practices of female genital mutilation, and childhood and early forced marriage, to outlaw them everywhere for everyone within this generation." |
He said the summit was intended to use the "power of convening people to come up with ideas and commitments to outlaw these practices". | He said the summit was intended to use the "power of convening people to come up with ideas and commitments to outlaw these practices". |
Hosted by the UK government and children's charity Unicef, the summit is being attended by international politicians, campaigners including the Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, and women who have undergone FGM. | Hosted by the UK government and children's charity Unicef, the summit is being attended by international politicians, campaigners including the Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, and women who have undergone FGM. |
The summit is also looking at ways to end forced marriage. | The summit is also looking at ways to end forced marriage. |
'Big challenge' | 'Big challenge' |
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, said the situation was improving but many girls remained at risk. | Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, said the situation was improving but many girls remained at risk. |
"The fact that 30 million girls are at risk of being cut in the coming years clearly means that we have a big challenge on our hands," she said. | "The fact that 30 million girls are at risk of being cut in the coming years clearly means that we have a big challenge on our hands," she said. |
Priscilla Karim, who was forced to undergo FGM in Sierra Leone aged nine, described her ordeal. | Priscilla Karim, who was forced to undergo FGM in Sierra Leone aged nine, described her ordeal. |
She said: "I felt the worst pain of my life and a heavy object sitting on my chest and I just passed out. | She said: "I felt the worst pain of my life and a heavy object sitting on my chest and I just passed out. |
"It's like a taboo, they don't tell you about it. You cannot tell anybody." | "It's like a taboo, they don't tell you about it. You cannot tell anybody." |
Female genital mutilation | Female genital mutilation |
Source: World Health Organization | Source: World Health Organization |
It is estimated that up to 137,000 women and girls living in England and Wales could have undergone FGM. | It is estimated that up to 137,000 women and girls living in England and Wales could have undergone FGM. |
It has been illegal across the UK since 1985, but the first prosecutions - which are currently ongoing - were not until this year. | |
Government measures to tackle FGM in the UK (except Scotland) include: | |
As well as saying it would consider the steps being taken elsewhere in the UK, the Scottish government said it was already working with the police, NHS and other organisations to ensure a "comprehensive approach to FGM in Scotland". | |
An "international charter" calling for the eradication of FGM and forced marriage within a generation is also being unveiled, along with programmes to identify child and forced marriage in 12 developing countries. | An "international charter" calling for the eradication of FGM and forced marriage within a generation is also being unveiled, along with programmes to identify child and forced marriage in 12 developing countries. |
Home Secretary Theresa May, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Justine Greening, the international development secretary, are also appearing at the summit. | Home Secretary Theresa May, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Justine Greening, the international development secretary, are also appearing at the summit. |
MPs recently said the UK's failure to tackle FGM was a "national scandal", and that failures by ministers, police and other agencies had led to the "preventable mutilation of thousands of girls". | MPs recently said the UK's failure to tackle FGM was a "national scandal", and that failures by ministers, police and other agencies had led to the "preventable mutilation of thousands of girls". |
Analysis | Analysis |
Jane Dreaper, BBC health correspondent | Jane Dreaper, BBC health correspondent |
Female genital mutilation has become a prominent issue in the UK in the past couple of years. | Female genital mutilation has become a prominent issue in the UK in the past couple of years. |
No one knows for sure how many women and children here are affected. | No one knows for sure how many women and children here are affected. |
But ministers have underlined that it is a form of child abuse - and the UK should do all it can to prevent it. | But ministers have underlined that it is a form of child abuse - and the UK should do all it can to prevent it. |
The prime minister is keen to demonstrate leadership on global issues beyond his increased spending on foreign aid, which has proved controversial at times. | The prime minister is keen to demonstrate leadership on global issues beyond his increased spending on foreign aid, which has proved controversial at times. |
Today's summit aims to eradicate FGM and child or forced marriage within a generation. | Today's summit aims to eradicate FGM and child or forced marriage within a generation. |
Is this doable? Summits like these sometimes fail to achieve their stated aims - but even when targets are not reached, there is still a sense of momentum and progress. | Is this doable? Summits like these sometimes fail to achieve their stated aims - but even when targets are not reached, there is still a sense of momentum and progress. |
And that could make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of girls worldwide. | And that could make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of girls worldwide. |
Unicef said 250 million women and girls alive today were married before the age of 15. | Unicef said 250 million women and girls alive today were married before the age of 15. |
Executive director Anthony Lake said: "The numbers tell us we must accelerate our efforts." | Executive director Anthony Lake said: "The numbers tell us we must accelerate our efforts." |