New measures to end FGM to be announced at summit

Prime Minister David Cameron is to announce new legislation tackling reporting on female genital mutilation:

Unicef warned ahead of a summit introducing new Government legislation, that while the rate of female genital mutilation and child marriage has fallen over the past three decades, population increase in developing nations alone could reverse this trend if "intensive action" is not introduced.

The Government will unveil plans to give teachers, doctors and social workers extra training to identify and help girls who might be at risk of becoming victims of FGM.

Further measures to be unveiled today include:

• New police guidance from the College of Policing and an inspection programme by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) that will look at how police handle FGM cases.
• A consultation on proposed civil orders to protect girls at risk of FGM.
• New legislation to grant victims of FGM lifelong anonymity from the time they make an allegation.
• A specialist "FGM service" that will include social workers to "proactively" identify instances of FGM.
• New programmes to prevent child and forced marriage in 12 developing nations.
• An "International Charter" calling for the eradication of these practices within a generation.

The Prime Minister has called to end the practice of female genital mutilation and forced marriages "once and for all", as new legislation is due to be unveiled by the Government at a summit in London.

Parents who fail to prevent their daughter being subjected to female genital mutilation will face prosecution under new legislation to be unveiled by the Government at a summit in London.

A £1.4 million FGM Prevention Programme for survivors and those at risk of the practice are among a raft of plans to be announced by Prime Minister David Cameron at the Girl Summit, which is being co-hosted by the Government and Unicef.

The measures to combat FGM and forced marriage in the UK and abroad come as Unicef warns advances made in tackling them in the developing world could be reversed if the pace of action is not increased.

Controlling the lives and bodies of young women through female genital mutilation has no place in modern Britain, the chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said. Dr Peter Carter added:

The UK Government will be introducing new training and guidance for front-line public sector workers to help recognise the signs of female genital mutilation, the Deputy Prime Minister is due to tell a summit today.

Teachers, doctors and social workers will be given extra training to identify and help girls who might be at risk of becoming victims of female genital mutilation (FGM).

The measures will see new guidance for professionals become part of compulsory training in public sector organisations.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will set out a package of measures to tackle FGM at a summit tomorrow.

The plan will involve supporting a small network of "community champions" to encourage volunteers who want to provide help in areas affected by FGM.