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Sakaria Ali and colleagues argue that UK policy is disproportionately focused on criminal prosecution rather than community based prevention and providing appropriate care to those living with the consequences of female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is internationally regarded both as a health and a human rights issue.1 Global prevalence estimates suggest that over 200 million women and girls have had different forms of medically unnecessary genital cutting.2 This figure excludes those with elective genital “cosmetic” surgery,123 which may also count as FGM/C as the WHO definition does not factor in consent (box 1).1 The practice occurs in many societies across the world for a variety of sociocultural reasons, including as a structured rite of passage into adulthood, and it affects women and girls of different ages.2 The increasing migration of people from countries that have higher rates of FGM/C to lower prevalence settings such as the UK ....