Charity says UK can learn from success stories in Africa, following today’s launch of Parliamentary FGM report

World Vision UK welcomes today's parliamentary report: Female genital mutilation: the case for a national action plan.

"The UK can learn from the success stories in Africa where aligned polices including legal reform and prosecutions have helped drastically reduce the number of girls forced to undergo FGM," said World Vision’s Nell Williams, co-author of the recently published ‘Exploring the Links: FGM and early/child marriage’ report.

She added: "Tackling FGM requires close government engagement with civil society, however.

"Our research show working with traditional and religious leaders from at-risk groups is key to tackling the social norms that drive the practice."

The progress made towards eliminating the practice in countries like Ethiopia and Niger - where the rate of FGM has decreased by up to 50% in a decade thanks to education and prosecution - should encourage the UK that change is possible, Ms Williams said.

"We urge the UK Government to look at these successful African lessons because they offer real hope and practical guidance towards eliminating FGM within a generation," she added.