Lambeth is among the areas with the highest prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in England according to a report published yesterday.
The report, complied by the Home Affairs Committee, registered 200 total recorded cases in the borough between April 2015 and March 2016.
It was aimed at reviewing FGM prevalence and evaluating government policy on the practice.
Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, who sits on the Home Affairs Committee, said: “It is shameful that there has not been a successful prosecution for FGM in the UK in the last 20 years.
“It must be repeated, loud and clear: the practice of FGM is a monstrous act and we must challenge it wherever we find it.”
An NSPCC spokesperson said the report highlights the amount of work that still needs to be done to prevent FGM in our communities.
“FGM leaves victims physically and mentally scarred and has no place in any society,” the spokesperson said.
The report recommends the implementation of compulsory Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education in high-prevalence areas to safeguard ‘at-risk’ girls.
“Appropriate sex education helps children learn about healthy relationships, develop a respect for themselves and others, and can prevent sexual harassment and abuse,” the NSPCC said.
“If we support and educate our children now, we help lay foundations for healthy relationships in the future.”
FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, but the nature of the practice makes it difficult to prosecute.
The NSPCC said: “For too long, children have suffered the barbaric practice of FGM, which has been hidden from the public eye.”
The NSPCC’s Childline service is currently looking for volunteers at its London base.
Anyone aged 16 plus can apply, and no previous experience or qualifications are needed as training is provided.
Volunteer Recruitment Meetings will be held at their office in Curtain Road, London, on Friday, September f23 rom 2pm, Wednesday, September 28 from 6.30pm, and Sunday, October 9 from 2.30pm.
Places can be booked online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BB6MBGR
For more information visit: www.nspcc.org.uk
Featured image courtesy of Matthew Perkins, via Twitter
