Religious and community leaders have signed a historic declaration
condemning female genital mutilation, but said there are still barriers to
ending the practice in the UK. The Somali Bravanese Community, Muslim Women's Network UK and the Church
of England were among 160 groups to have voiced support for the declaration,
which states that the practice is not supported by any religious doctrine. At a
meeting in Westminster on Wednesday, they promised to take the message into
their communities.
Norman Baker, minister for crime prevention, said the declaration– the
first of its kind – was part of a push to win "hearts and minds" in the battle
against FGM, which affects 125 million women and girls worldwide. Guardian.
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