A/HRC/27/36 equality and non-discrimination. She expressed concern at the trend towards the medicalization of female genital mutilation, and called upon States to ensure that health officials observed legislation and imposed adequate penalties for those who failed to comply. She recommended the use of confidential reporting mechanisms and education for girls. 12. Mariam Lamizana discussed the role of regional mechanisms in efforts to combat female genital mutilation. She stated that, in addition to communities in the 29 countries with the highest prevalence rates, it was also important to include immigrant populations throughout the world. It was difficult for communities that practiced female genital mutilation to renounce the practice, even when they disagreed with it. 13. Ms. Lamizana stressed that, given that these practices are conducted without regard for borders, there was a need for cross-border and regional approaches, in particular awareness-raising and regional networks of religious leaders. The involvement of young people and communities as well as public statements or ceremonies where “cutters” handed over their knives was also important. She recalled the important role that civil society organizations had played in combating the practice across the world, and in particular in Africa. She recommended that legal provisions be accompanied by implementation monitoring integrated into development policies and regional and international strategies. Lastly, she stated that Governments and communities would benefit from the dissemination and sharing of prior experiences and effective strategies for combating the practice. 14. Liz Ditchburn highlighted the efforts made by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to address female genital mutilation in both British and international forums. The first step was to acknowledge that diaspora communities in the United Kingdom were at risk and to understand their relations with their countries of origin. In the United Kingdom, the Government was currently making efforts to obtain more accurate data on the prevalence of female genital mutilation in the country. Comprehensive action, including prevention, was a fundamental part of combating the practice. A wide range of professionals, including health and child protection officials, should be informed of the risks and provided with guidance and tools to facilitate their work. Also important were legislative frameworks and prosecutions, and appropriate support services for those affected. The media also played a critical role in raising awareness, as was community-led information. She reported that, in the United Kingdom, the mainstream national media were increasingly interested in the issue and had started to raise awareness of this problem, which had inspired non-governmental and civil society organizations to lead the way in combating the practice. At the international level, the Department for International Development was funding international efforts, including the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme. Ms. Ditchburn called for more research into mechanisms and successful strategies for addressing the practice. Lastly, she informed participants that the Government of the United Kingdom together with UNICEF would host a “girls’ summit” in London in July 2014. It was hoped that the summit would build on global efforts, in particular the Africa-led efforts, to increase momentum and foster further efforts to end the practice within a generation. Participants in the summit would also discuss the issue of child and forced marriage. 15. Marleen Temmerman stated that female genital mutilation was a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and had serious implications for their health. WHO supported efforts to eradicate the practice through research into prevention and good practices, and promoted cooperation between ministries of health. She cited several examples of good interventions, in countries such as Burkina Faso, Kenya and Egypt. WHO was also working on the development of a clinical atlas to assist in correct identification of female genital mutilation. Ms. Temmerman emphasized the need for a comprehensive response to female genital mutilation and for combining efforts to prevent 5