MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - The United Kingdom plans to implement tough new laws to prevent girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) from being taken out of the country as a part of the crime bill, issued to parliament, The Guardian reported.
“We are introducing an unprecedented package of measures to strengthen protection for victims [of FGM], encourage them to report the crime to the police and get support. We also want to prosecute those, who knowingly let this terrible abuse happen to children they are responsible for,” Justice Minister Mike Penning was quoted as saying Monday.
“We know that legislation alone cannot eradicate this unacceptable practice. But it is important that we change the law where necessary,” he added.
The UK already has a 2003 Female Genital Mutilation Act, but it did not cover non-permanent UK residents and FGM’s performed out of the country.
About 137,000 women and girls are living with the consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM) in England and Wales, the charity Equality Now reported, adding that 60,000 UK girls were born to mothers, who have undergone FGM, in estimates published in July this year.
