Lady writer champions human rights

The House of Lords plays its part in a global campaign

A move to end the brutal practice of female genital mutilation has been approved by peers.

The Bill - introduced to the Lords by Baroness Ruth Rendell - amends the current law to make it unlawful to take girls abroad for genital mutilation whether or not it is lawful elsewhere.

It will also increase the maximum penalty for both performing and procuring female genital mutilation from 5 to 14 years imprisonment.

The Bill updates the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985, and was introduced to the Commons by Labour MP Ann Clwyd.

She says "strengthening the law in this way will send a strong message about human rights and hopefully have a deterrent effect."

"The practice is medically unnecessary, extremely painful and poses sever health risks, both at the time when the mutilation is carried out, and in later life," she continued.

FGM statistics

Information about the extent to which FGM is practised in the United Kingdom is difficult to come by because it is rarely reported to the authorities.

However, the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development estimates that there are 74,000 first generation African immigrant women in the UK who have undergone FGM and as many as 7,000 girls under 16 within the practising communities who are at risk of FGM.

The procedure is usually performed on girls between the ages of 4-13, but in some cases FGM is performed on new born infants or on young women prior to marriage or pregnancy.

The government insists it does not regard female genital mutilation as being associated with any particular religion or ethnic group.

Female genital mutilation has been a traditional practice in certain communities - primarily, though not exclusively, parts of Africa - for centuries.

Home Secretary David Blunkett supports the Bill, and says "Female Genital Mutilation is a barbaric practice that is rightly illegal in this country."

"I am determined to ensure this vile practice is completely outlawed and I am very pleased Ann Clwyd brought forward this Private Member's Bill, without which I would have brought forward government legislation. This dreadful procedure has no place in a modern, civilised Britain," explained Mr Blunkett.

The Bill will was passed after its Third Reading in the House of Lords on Thursday 23 October and is now awaiting royal assent before becoming law.