On 29 April, TGG-ALM was represented at the FGM Summit, held at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and hosted by the Home Office and the Attorney General’s Office, in partnership with The Vavengers and African Women’s Rights Advocates.
This summit was a significant gathering: Ministers, survivors, campaigners, and frontline organisations, all in one room, talking seriously about how the UK government can strengthen and better coordinate its efforts to prevent and respond to FGM; across health, education, legal, and other sectors in line with the recently launched Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.
Orchid Project, our TGG-ALM consortium partner, participated in a panel discussion. Orchid Project highlighted the importance of shifting the narrative away from viewing FGM as a cultural or traditional practice and towards recognising it for what it is: a human rights violation, a form of gender-based violence, and a global health emergency.
While this shift in language may appear simple, it reflects years of advocacy and leadership from survivors, activists, and organisations working to end FGM. Reframing the issue in this way helps ensure that conversations, policies, and interventions centre the rights, safety, and wellbeing of women and girls rather than cultural justifications for harm.
“What was particularly meaningful to me was seeing that work reflected back from the very highest levels of government. The TGG-ALM Power of Language position paper was cited directly by Rt Hon Ellie Reeves KC MP, the Solicitor General.” Said Joanne Hemmings, Deputy Director for Design and Innovation at Options Consultancy Services.
“The Power of language sets out the importance of how we name, frame, and talk about this issue, which was clearly woven into the speech delivered by Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls.” Joanne said.
This is what policy influence looks like in practice. It is rarely immediate or visible in a single moment. It is built through years of evidence, advocacy, relationship-building, and a commitment to keeping the issue alive in spaces where decisions are made. “To see TGG-ALM’s work land in that room, in those speeches, is a reminder of why that long-term investment matters.” Joanne added.
The Summit concluded with the announcement of a new multi-sectoral technical working group on FGM, a concrete commitment to translating this conversation into coordinated action across government. We welcome this development and look forward to contributing to what comes next.
