The United Kingdom (UK) has committed up to £35 million to help eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM). Development minister Lynne Featherstone hopes that the donation will inspire momentum to end the harmful practice “within a generation.”
Despite the fact that 25 African countries have joined the international community by condemning FGM, implementation of laws is struggling. The World Health Organization reports that more than 100 million African girls age 10 and older are victims of FGM.
Part of the funding will be used to fight the practice of FGM within the diaspora communities. The funding will also support research to analyze the best ways of ending the harmful practice as well as support community programs.
The minister will be visiting Senegal and Sierra Leone where she will meet with organizations who work in this field to learn from and evaluate their efforts.