MORE survivors of female genital mutilation need to be given the courage to speak out if the practice is to be eradicated, a conference in Bradford has been told.

More than 200 delegates were at the Bradford Hotel in Hall Ings yesterday to hear how it will take raised awareness and also steadfast commitment from agencies such as local councils, the NHS and police if the practice which was made illegal in the UK in 2003 is to be wiped out for good.

FGM survivor Yemi Fagborun and chief executive officer of Peacemaker International, one of the conference's organising groups, said victims in the UK still felt unable to speak out and it was vital that any such barriers were broken down.

"People are still too afraid to talk about it, they are worried it will make their family a target," she said.

"FGM is not something you can see, it's hidden. Unless victims are empowered and come forward or the vulnerable are identified and the signs or risk are spotted then it is difficult to tackle."

She said she was hoping the conference would get agencies to do more than talk about the serious problem, she said she wanted pledges of resources to make positive changes happen and help stop FGM.

"We don't want Bradford or West Yorkshire to be left behind. We have a multi-agency group working together - the council, the NHS, the police and Public health. We want more than words. We want resources to keep this subject, which is still a taboo, out in the open."

Bradford Council's executive member for children and young people's services, Councillor Ralph Berry, said the it had given its absolute commitment to doing anything it can to stop FGM.

He said: "We have got to prepare all our professionals to identify and tackle this heinous crime. It's not whether it's a big issue in Bradford, it's not a huge issue, but one is too many. We have to identify it better, prevent it better and support victims better."

Bradford East MP David Ward (Lib Dem) spoke about the role MPs had in eradicating FGM, he said as well as a parliamentary role in campaigns and legislation there was also action at a local level being aware, as well as constituency staff, of the issue how to identify it and what to do about it.

He said: "We get thousands of people coming through the door to see our caseworkers . It's a real risk, we need to be ready and on the lookout for it."

Other speakers included West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burn-Williamson and keynote speaker Bishop Diana Adjartey-Este who is the first African ordained woman bishop in Europe.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “FGM is a hugely under reported offence with few prosecutions.

“West Yorkshire Police now have an action plan on their approach to tackling FGM, and they are working with key partners including some of those attending the conference to confront and challenge this abhorrent and devastating practice.”