UK religious leaders unite against FGM

Groups sign 'landmark' declaration making clear female genital mutilation is not supported by religious doctrine



Lynne Featherstone, international development minister, said faith and community leaders were fundamental to efforts to end FGM. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Alexandra Topping
theguardian.com, Friday 20 June 2014 08.45 EDT

Religious and community leaders have signed a historic declaration condemning female genital mutilation, but said there are still barriers to ending the practice in the UK.

The Somali Bravanese Community, Muslim Women's Network UK and the Church of England were among 160 groups to have voiced support for the declaration, which states that the practice is not supported by any religious doctrine. At a meeting in Westminster on Wednesday, they promised to take the message into their communities.

Norman Baker, minister for crime prevention, said the declaration– the first of its kind – was part of a push to win "hearts and minds" in the battle against FGM, which affects 125 million women and girls worldwide.

Baker said the summit was a "landmark moment". "By bringing together religious and community leaders to forge a commitment to condemn this shocking practice, we are working to support communities to abandon the practice themselves."

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/20/uk-religious-leaders-fgm-female-genital-mutilation