Over 137,000 Women in England and Wales have Undergone Genital Mutilation: Survey

A recent study results by the City University London, discovered an alarming incidence of sexual mutilation in many young women and girls. David Cameron, U.K.'s Prime Minister along with Equality Now, a charity organization, will be hosting the country's first summit to abolish genital mutilation and cutting (FGM) and forced marriages of young girls.

The survey reports revealed over 10,300 survivors of FGM are aged between 15 and 49, more than 24,000 women are aged 50 and above and 10,000 girls are below 15 years. Majority of these FGM survivors are immigrants from countries where removal of external female genitalia or female circumcision is observed for cultural and religious reasons.

The findings suggest a drastic rise in the number of women in the U.K from these countries practicing FGM from 182,000 in 2001 and 283,000 during 2011.

The new law on the prevention of FGM and forced marriage has already received funding of $2.4 million to eliminate both practices in Britain and other 12 developing countries. The rules also suggest strict legal action and prosecution for parents and those who encourage FGM and forced marriages.

"I'll make reporting FGM mandatory for doctors, teachers and social workers. Let's end this abhorrent practice once and for all," tweeted Cameron, reports Reuters.

According to the data by the UNICEF, more than 130 million girls and women worldwide have had disambiguation of private parts. The incidence of this practice has declined since the last three decades but, officials believe in incorporating stringent laws to protect about 30 million young girls from undergoing the FGM within the next decade. If not, over 63 million FGM will be performed by 2050, predict the officials.

"The numbers tell us we must accelerate our efforts. And let's not forget that these numbers represent real lives," said Anthony Lake executive director at UNICEF, reports the Telegraph.

"While these are problems on a global scale, the solutions must be local, driven by communities, families and girls themselves to change mindsets and break the cycles that perpetuate FGM/C and child marriage," he adds.