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<p>Long-term and systematic eradication of female genital mutilation in the UK will
require practising communities to abandon the practice themselves. To keep girls safe
we need to work directly with local people who know what will work in their areas.</p><p>
</p><p>Faith has an important role to play. At the Girl Summit we launched declarations
for faith leaders to sign against female genital mutilation and forced marriage. These
have now been signed by over 350 leaders from all major faiths. These declarations
make it clear that no religion condones the practice.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
Department for Communities and Local Government and the Government Equalities Office
have also committed £270,000 to community projects to prevent female genital mutilation
and other forms of so-called honour based violence. We recently announced the projects
that successfully secured this funding. We will fund 17 community projects which include
three organisations that will set up networks of community champions against female
genital mutilation and forced marriage.</p><p> </p><p>Many of these projects will
work with young people. Brave young women and men have been at the forefront of campaigning
against female genital mutilation and their courage and determination inspire us all
to do more. Videos of the projects can be found at <a href="http://www.thinglink.com/scene/597214845217013762"
target="_blank">http://www.thinglink.com/scene/597214845217013762</a>.</p><p> </p><p><br>This
funding is in addition to £100,000 committed by the Home Office to run a female genital
mutilation community engagement initiative. The Home Office is funding 12 voluntary
and community sector organisations to carry out community work to raise awareness
of female genital mutilation amongst women already affected by this and young girls
at-risk, as well as men in the community.</p><p> </p><p><br>On 5 December 2014 the
Government also launched a new female genital mutilation unit to drive a step change
in nationwide outreach on female genital mutilation with criminal justice partners,
children's services, healthcare professionals and affected communities.</p><p> </p><p><br>The
unit will deliver outreach support to local areas to assist them in developing their
local response to tackling female genital mutilation and to raise awareness of the
unit. The first phase of this work will be carried out in a series of training workshops
which Forward UK are delivering to Local Safeguarding Children's Boards in high prevalence
female genital mutilation areas.</p><p> </p><p><br>The unit will also offer bespoke
targeted peer support to local areas who want to strengthen their ability to tackle
female genital mutilation. Organisations interested in receiving peer support or an
outreach presentation can email the unit at</p><p><a href="mailto:FGMenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk"
target="_blank">FGMenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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