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<p>Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. We will not tolerate
a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering
to women and girls. That is why our work to end this practice is an integral part
of the cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, which is
backed by increased funding of £100M.</p><p>We have significantly strengthened the
law, including introducing a new offence of failing to protect a girl from FGM, lifelong
anonymity for victims, and a mandatory reporting duty requiring specified professionals
to report known cases in under 18s to the police. We have also introduced FGM Protection
Orders to protect women and girls at the earliest opportunity. These are already being
used to good effect - since their introduction in July 2015, over 100 orders have
been made.</p><p> </p><p>Raising awareness amongst frontline professionals is essential.
That is why in April 2016 we published multi-agency guidance on FGM, which is statutory
for the first time, and have developed free e-learning which has been completed by
over 100,000 individuals to date. The Home Office’s FGM Unit is carrying out awareness
raising outreach across the UK. These tools are helping increase awareness, encourage
good practice, and support training.</p><p> </p><p>Significant work is under way to
improve the response from health and social care professionals. The Department of
Health, in partnership with the NHS, is leading a £4m national FGM Prevention Programme,
and as part of the Department for Education’s £200m Children’s Social Care Innovation
Programme a range of projects have been funded. DfE have also invested £375,000 to
raise awareness amongst school staff and pupils.</p>
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