Council attempts to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) are being hindered by some community and faith leaders, town hall chiefs are warning.
The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for the encouragement or promotion of FGM by faith leaders to be made illegal, saying measures to toughen up FGM legislation needs to go further to tackle the crime.
The LGA also said the Government should increase funding and support to councils to help them provide better FGM-related services.
Cllr Ann Lucas, chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: ‘FGM is a horrific form of abuse and councils see first-hand the devastating impact it has on its victims’ mental and physical wellbeing. Local authorities are determined to work with communities to end the practice and reduce the thousands of women and girls estimated to be at risk of FGM in the UK. However, their work to change long-standing cultural practices are made more difficult when community or religious leaders continue to promote it.
‘FGM will only be eradicated in the long-term by changing practice and custom in communities where it happens and this requires working with and empowering members of these communities to change their views towards FGM.’
The LGA said making it a criminal offence to encourage FGM would also help change cultural attitudes and make it easier to bring cases against those that support the practice.
