§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had on the practice of sexual mutilation of young women. [139457]
§ Mr. FoulkesWomen's rights and health are crucial factors in achieving the Government's objective of poverty elimination. We are strongly committed to supporting work towards eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM), a basic rights violation which must be stopped.
We are working bilaterally and with multilateral organisations, including UNIFEM, to persuade Governments to tackle FGM as a serious public health concern. Our support for WHO's work on FGM includes: research on the prevalence and health consequences of abuse; pilot projects to prevent and manage the consequences of FGM; and developing guidance for health workers. We seek to reduce the incidence of FGM by supporting advocacy to increase awareness of the dangers to women of the practice.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health's FGM Hearings Report, which is to be launched today, is to be commended.