Funding to prevent female genital mutilation and forced marriage

To mark International Day of the Girl on 11 October, £330,000 of funding to help tackle female genital mutilation and forced marriage head on has been committed by the government.

The funding will be used to extend a number of projects that provide expertise and support services in some of the most at risk areas of the country to help eradicate this abhorrent practice.

The money will be split between three groups of projects addressing both female genital mutilation and forced marriage:

• £100,000 will go to the Forced Marriage Unit to be directed at community work to support victims and survivors of forced marriage;
• £80,000 to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s community champions fund who will work with local faith leaders to promote messages during faith meetings; supporting girls at risk to speak out, work with media to tackle attitudes that perpetuate these crimes, and work with local areas to ensure that their services are sensitive to needs of those in need; and
• £150,000 for community engagement in at risk areas led by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

For further information including how to apply before the deadline of 5pm on Monday 10 November visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-projects-to-tackle-female-genital-mutilation-and-forced-marriage.