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UK News

Churches need to speak up on FGM, says Christian campaigner

by Hannah Tooley

MPs on the Commons Home Affairs committee have warned the practice is a "hidden crime" which continues to be a "national scandal".

FGM comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, according to the World Health Organisation's definition.

Dr Anne-Marie Wilson, a Christian from anti-FGM charity 28 Too Many, told Premier churches have a duty of care to young girls and women.

She said: "I think it's something that Jesus would have liked to have been involved in and we should not be afraid as a church of not being politically correct and not getting involved in this issue.

"We have a right to stand against this issue, which is child abuse, and we shouldn't let children in our societies be affected by this, we need to protect them."

Figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in July showed there were 5,700 newly recorded cases in England over the previous year.

Research has estimated that approximately 137,000 women and girls living in England and Wales in 2011 were affected by FGM.

The Commons Home Affairs committee described the absence of a successful prosecution for an FGM offence as "beyond belief".

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Dr Anne-Marie Wilson here:

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