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This was not an easy conversation. In fact, I had an overwhelming sense of guilt throughout: that I am so lucky to have been born in a place, to parents, in a society, which would never force me to endure this horrific pain that over 200 million girls and women around the world are currently enduring - the pain of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

If you take anything away from listening to this podcast, it is that we need to do more and that we can do more. See below for ways in which you can help.

My guest, Hibo Wardere, is a woman who exudes an impressive combination of charm, passion, and charisma. Everybody who knows her, or has met her, will attest to that. Because of this, during our conversation it was easy to forget that this strong and inspiring woman has been suffering for the majority of her life from such a harrowing experience. Still, in her own words, she is a survivor.

Hibo was cut[1] at the delicate age of six (type 3 FGM). She has spent her adult life fighting for women and girls all around the world, in an effort to put an end to the inhumane practice of FGM - a practice which has absolutely no health benefits, only endless physical and psychological trauma, making it “a life sentence”.

“THE UNITED NATIONS REALLY NEEDS TO GROW A BACKBONE.”

 According to Hibo, the 3,000-year-old practice simply has no place in the world today. FGM has been claimed as necessary for religious reasons, sexual purity or one of the many other justifications forwarded by communities where it remains commonplace. But, Hibo says that “it needs to be seen as what it is” which is nothing less than violence against women and girls.

Although Hibo puts her faith in the international community bringing an end to FGM, she calls it out for not creating a common narrative that the practice is a form of brutal violence. She puts it bluntly: “the United Nations really needs to grow a backbone and needs to say no to these countries [which allow FGM to continue] and hold them accountable”.

It was only as recent as April 2020 that Sudan decided to criminalise FGM. Hibo “almost jumped out of [her] chair” when she learned about this. Although this legislative change was not indicative of a wider cultural acceptance in the country that FGM should not happen, it was, in her opinion, definitely a step in gaining greater rights for women in a country dominated by patriarchal social structures.

“EDUCATION IS MAGIC; IT’S THE BIGGEST TOOL WE HAVE.”

Hibo is hopeful that FGM can be brought to an end in her lifetime and is relying on the power of education. She speaks with pride about the bulk of her work that involves teaching school children about FGM, and about what to do if they fear it may happen to them. Through her interactions in schools across the country, Hibo is certain that “if we educate the young ... we have a 100% chance of eliminating this completely”. I believe her.

Hibo gives the example of foot-binding in China - another excruciatingly painful practice which women endured for over 1,000 years. But, due to an education campaign led by the country’s intellectuals, it was eventually banned. Hibo believes that the same tactics must be used for tackling FGM. “Education is magic; it’s the biggest tool we have,” she says. 

A powerful point that Hibo mentions, with a notable amount of displeasure, is that it is primarily men who continue to drive the practice and existence of FGM, resisting the tightening of any laws which would see it banned. There is no doubt that FGM is a practice that has largely been sustained for the sexual satisfaction of men, as was foot-binding in China. She mentions a prominent Egyptian MP as an example, who stated in 2016 that FGM was “needed in order to reduce women's sexual appetite, to match Egypt's men”. Hibo insists that any mass education campaign would need to hone in on men in communities where FGM is prevalent, in order to change their views about FGM. Only then can there be real, lasting change. That MP remains in power...

Hibo is an inspiring and relentless advocate in the fight against FGM. With the damaging effects of FGM potentially enduring a lifetime for young girls and women, this dangerous practice must end.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP BRING FGM TO AN END?

●      Follow Hibo on Twitter to learn more about her work and to stay updated with campaigns: @HiboWardere

●      Spread the word through your own social media using the following: #noFGM #endFGM. Share the stories of survivors. Raising awareness is how we can demand accountability.

●      If you are a professional, use your expertise and network to keep this issue in the public consciousness.

●      Get in touch with your political representatives and let them know that this is an issue you want them to keep on the agenda when they address the wider government. 

RESOURCES

Here is a non-exhaustive list of resources for survivors of FGM, children and those who want to learn more about it. (Compiled by Human Rights Pulse editor, Annabel Hazlitt.)

●      Hibo’s memoir: ‘Cut: One Woman’s Fight Against FGM in Britain today”

●      My Body, My Rules - A handbook for primary school aged children 

●      In the UK, the NHS run a network of FGM clinics, the details of which can be found here. 

●      SafeHands: a charity that promotes access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information, and works with Hibo.

●      Forward: The Foundation for Women’s Health, Research, and Development (FORWARD) is a global charity that works with African women and girls towards ending child marriage, FGM, and violence against women.

●      The Five Foundation: Co-founded by FGM survivor Nimco Ali, the Five Foundation is a global partnership to end female genital mutilation (FGM). It works to ensure increased collaboration and increased awareness of FGM as an urgent global issue, and to leverage increased resources for the movement to end FGM.

●      The Dahlia Project: Provides a support group for women who have undergone FGM, alongside individual counselling. 

●      The Orchid Project: A charity advocating to end the silence and taboo around FGM and campaigning to end the practice.

[1] The World Health Organisation describes the 4 types of FGM as follows:

“Type 1:  the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris, which is a sensitive part of the female genitals), and/or the prepuce/ clitoral hood (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoral glans).

Type 2:  the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva ).

Type 3: Also known as infibulation, this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans (Type I FGM).

Type 4: This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.”