UK GOVERNMENT MUST ACT SOON ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

I was appalled last week when Conservative MP, Sir Christopher Chope, recently given a knighthood by Theresa May, blocked the progress of a Private Members’ Bill designed to improve protections against the brutal and medieval practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

This is an issue which should concern all of us, in all political parties. I spoke out at Westminster, urging the UK Government to recognise that the blocking of this bill has shaken public confidence that they do intend to deal with the very serious issue of Female Genital Mutilation, and urged the Minister to take all steps to do so quickly to provide reassurance and any prevent further delay.

This matter is being taken very seriously in Scotland as the Scottish Government currently seeks to strengthen the existing legislative framework for the protection of women and girls from Female Genital Mutilation which is a cruel and nasty form of gender-based violence.