Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support anti-FGM measures.

The UK is a key supporter of the Africa-led movement to end Female Genital Mutilation. We have made the largest single donor commitment ever to this issue, with a flagship programme of £35 million over 5 years.

In addition DFID is exploring what we can do in practising countries where we have bilateral programmes, including supporting efforts to end FGM in Sudan (which has a very high prevalence rate) through a £12m bilateral five year programme.

We also continue to work with others to increase international commitment to this neglected issue. DFID’s Girl Summit, held in July 2014, resulted in commitments to take action to end FGM and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) from organisations, governments, businesses, communities and individuals across the world.