Every eleven seconds a female baby or girl somewhere in the world, is forcibly subjected to FGM: Why I Became a Member of Savera UK Youth Advisory Board

Prior to securing a position as a member of Savera UK Youth Advisory Board, I was invested—principally in an academic and voluntary capacity— in educating women and men about female sexuality, and in raising awareness about the issue of female genital mutilation. During my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature as well as my Master’s Degree in Gender, Sexuality, and Culture, at The University of Manchester, I specialised in female sexuality and FGM, and also created and managed successful events which problematised the signification of shame that is culturally imposed onto female sexual pleasure, raised awareness about FGM, as well as (sex) educated large audiences of men and women.

Following the recent completion of my Master’s degree, I was committed to searching for an opportunity through which I could apply my skills and knowledge in order to be actively involved in helping to end— and protect girls and women from— FGM, which has no basis in religion and to which young girls are forcibly subjected: with the risk of death or disability. I feel that I have an obligation to help protect girls and women from FGM and in so doing not only help prevent the physical and mental complications that are produced by this mutilation, but also help secure girls’ and women’s rights to their bodies and to sexual pleasure.

Savera’s investment in the global movement to end female genital mutilation— and, by extension, in the rights of girls and women— as well as in educating others about harmful practices which violate human rights, particularly aligned with my own values, as well as the skillset and knowledge that I had developed as a product of my own academic and voluntary investment in raising awareness about female genital mutilation, and my investment in girl’s and women’s rights.

What particularly struck me about Savera UK is that it does not only address the effects of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices, but that it also raises awareness about, and tackles, the unfounded justifications for such practices, which are used to justify as ‘culturally acceptable’ the psychological/ physical/ sexual/ emotional abuse of an individual: particularly of women.

I personally struggle with the fact that a common attribute of harmful practices is that they are often related to female sexuality, and are usually implemented to ensure the ascendency of patriarchy: Savera UK both recognises and challenges this fact. Expanding on the issue of FGM, every eleven seconds a female baby or girl somewhere in the world, is forcibly subjected to FGM for non-therapeutic reasons. She is usually without anaesthetic, and she will either die or become permanently disabled. Her rights to her body and to sexual pleasure are expunged along with parts— or all—of her external genitalia.

FGM is not a religious obligation, and it is not based on any of the other unfounded justifications for FGM, but girls and women (and even many men) have been culturally conditioned to think otherwise. Expanding on just one example of these justifications, the postulation that FGM ‘makes a girl pure’ is an unfounded patriarchal justification— an excuse— to enable the mutilation of girls. This is an excuse because ‘purity’ is not a constituent property of a girl’s mutilated genitalia but, rather, the reference to ‘purity’, here, constitutes a signification which is superimposed onto the signifier of the mutilated female genitalia by patriarchal ideology. This then produces a disturbing excuse to be able to mutilate girls.

Similarly, religion is manipulated and used by perpetrators in order to present FGM as a religious obligation for girls and women. In reality, FGM originated as a strategical and ideological technique (of men) to inhibit female sexual pleasure by violently mutilating the female genitalia: with the primary aim of this being the sexual, physical, and psychological subjugation of women by men to ensure the ascendancy of patriarchy. (My article concerning how the neurological connection between the female brain and the female genitalia affects how a woman is psychologically, as well as physically and sexually, violated after female genital mutilation will be published on this site soon.)

This is precisely why the existence of Savera UK and its by-product— the Youth Advisory Board— is so necessary because, it is by raising awareness about these kinds of unfounded justifications which enable harmful practices, that the Youth Advisory Board can expose what is really at stake with such practices: abuse and the violation of human rights. Savera UK and its Youth Board are also necessary because women’s and men’s rights are being violated not just as a result of FGM, but also from other forms of ‘honour’-based violence and harmful practices, such as forced-marriage. It is all forms of harmful practices which Savera UK raises awareness about and attempts to eradicate.

Originally, I was primarily pushed to become a member of Savera’s Youth Advisory Board by my determination to help raise awareness about— and help to end— FGM. My membership with Savera’s Youth Board is, of course, still constituted by this determination, but my commitment to protecting girls’ and women’s rights is now constituted by a much larger desire to protect all children, women, and men who are subject to any violation of their human rights through any harmful practice.

Now, as Vice Chair of the Youth Advisory Board—which is constituted of volunteers aged between eleven and twenty-five— I am now actively involved in educating others (particularly young individuals) about what is at stake with harmful practices which violate human rights, and in empowering individuals to speak out against such practices. I urge anyone, who is interested in speaking out against— and protecting all children, women, and men from—  these issues, to become a member of the Savera UK Youth Advisory Board in order to not only help protect rights, but lives, and to allow individuals to have their savera (new beginning).

By Isabella Rooke-Ley, Savera UK Youth Advisory Board (current Vice-Chair)

6th February is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM which is a day of international observation sponsored by the United Nations. As FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of human rights of girls and women, the 6th February is a day that helps us all raise awareness about this “hidden” crime. The theme from the UN this year is ‘Unleashing Youth Power’:

“…this International Day will focus on mobilizing youth around the eliminations of harmful practices, including female genital mutilation under the theme: “Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of accelerating actions for zero female genital mutilation.”

Savera UK Youth unleash their power

For the 2019 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, Savera UK Youth developed an exhibition dedicated to female genital mutilation after listening to a survivor tell her story. They exhibited this work in London as part of the National FGM Centre’s seminar. The young people then expanded the exhibition to include a performance and then launched it as part of UK Parliament Week. The young people are hoping to exhibit their work in different locations and perform in order to raise awareness amongst other young people about these issues and encourage them to speak out too.

www.saveraukyouth.co.uk

Why is it important to have awareness days like the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM?

FGM includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is carried out for various cultural reasons within families and communities in the misguided notion that it will benefit the girl in some way e.g. to keep her virginity sacred until marriage. The procedure has absolutely no health benefits to girls and despite popular belief there are no religious texts that say that this practice needs to be endured, however religion is used as a reason to justify the practice.

The FGM tradition reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture, cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure quite often results in death.

Although the total number of cases of FGM remains unknown due to lack of reporting, it is reported that 60,000 girls under 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK and 137,000 women and girls living with consequences in this country. Last year saw the first ever prosecution for FGM in the UK despite it being illegal in this country since 1985. Although prosecution is vital, prevention is the key to ending this crime.

The volume of women and girls across the world affected by FGM as well as the health risks and complications are the reasons why the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is so imperative. It is vital to collaborate with professionals to recognise the signs someone at risk as well as working with communities where it is culturally accepted.

What can you do to help Savera UK eradicate harmful practices?

Savera UK campaign to eliminate  harmful practices and provide life-saving services to those at risk, regardless of age, culture, sexuality or gender.

We encourage people to speak out about issues such as female genital mutilation in order to raise awareness and break the silence about these “taboo” subjects.

We are committed and passionate about the work that we do and we need your help to continue to support to break the silence on these very important human rights issues.

After the success of the FGM exhibition, launched as part of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6th February), Savera UK Youth Advisory Board wanted to expand on this exhibition and launch it in the North West, with photography and poetry by the young people.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice that is embedded in cultural traditions across the world but it is recognised as a violation of human rights, is banned by the UN and is illegal in 30 countries, including the UK. However, 140 million women and girls around the world are living with the consequences of being ‘cut’ and a further 3 million girls are at risk of the practice each year.

The event was hosted in partnership with the Liverpool Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team who supported the cause. The exhibition opened with a performance developed by the young people and artist and performer Joanne Tremarco, which encouraged everyone to break the silence around harmful traditional practices.

The exhibition was then officially opened by Savera UK Founder Afrah Qassim and guest speaker Payzee Mahmod, ambassador of the Iranian & Kurdish Womens Rights Organisation (IKWRO). When speaking about the exhibition, Payzee said:

“As a survivor of FGM I am committed to raising awareness about this and other harmful practices which contribute to honour based abuse. We must challenge these practices and eradicate them on every level through education and training. In order for us to achieve this we must recognise and understand the complexities of ‘honour’ based abuse.”

The audience then listened to poetry about FGM from the young people, which was created with the support of Joanne Tremarco. Payzee shared her own experience of FGM and the ‘honour’ killing of her sister Banaz Mahmod. Savera UK Patron Nazir Afzal OBE closed the exhibition, bringing home the fact that harmful practices are a human rights issue and it is everyone’s responsibility to stand up against them.

There was also a special performance by the young people with music created by Savera UK Youth member Naomi Otubu. Naomi thought it was important to write a song about FGM because:

“It was important for me to write a song about FGM as I had and still do have strong feelings about the practice. Hearing the story from one of the survivors inspired me to get her message across through a song, as I feel a catchy song will drill the message into your head. So for anyone who wasn’t aware of FGM and has listened to my song they now know what FGM means and what it stands for.”

After a question and answer session with the guest speakers, the young people asked those attending to pledge to join the Savera UK Youth Advisory board, volunteer, join the Savera UK Youth #ImSpeakingOut campaign and share what they have learned and to fundraise for the organisation.

The aim of this FGM Exhibition with Savera UK Youth was to educate young people about FGM and the impact it has on those affected, while teaching them that culture can be beautiful but we can still challenge harmful traditions that violate human rights. The exhibition put a spotlight on these ‘hidden’ issues and showcased the poetry, performance and photography skills of the young people.

Savera UK Campaign and Youth Engagement Officer, Shauna Lacy, who works with Savera UK Youth said:

“I am running out of ways to say how proud I am of Savera UK Youth. They work so hard and they are passionate and dedicated to our cause. The work they have produced is incredible and I look forward to seeing the next project.”

By Elias Folarin

My experience with Savera began in August 2019. I was informed of this project through an individual close to me. Joining a Youth Group has always been of great interest to me as it would provide the opportunity to meet new people, which would place me out of my comfort zone and, ultimately, boost my confidence. Through the project we aimed to uncover the truth behind harmful traditions such as forced marriage and, particularly, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and the horrific and appalling effects they have on individuals.

During the course of the project with Savera I was given the opportunity to meet an individual affected by FGM, who was kind enough to share her story filled with pain and regrets; whilst listening to her story clear sentiments of helplessness and isolation were evoked, she informed us that her family had previous experiences with FGM and it was clear that she was stripped of the choice to choose whether she wanted it or not; an option which would ultimately shape the rest of her life, unfortunately in a negative way. This implies that rather than being beneficial to the individuals affected, they are merely a hindrance to them.

During the project we were asked to write poems which reflected the thoughts and feelings of individuals affected by FGM and their loved ones, this required us to go in depth into the mind of a victim which, emotionally, drew us closer to them and reinforced our quest to contest these harmful and coercive traditions. Noticeably, our decision to portray the negative effects of FGM through a performance was an important one as it enabled us to capture the visceral meaning behind the message of our project. By using visual means to efficiently display our project it is possible to gather the attention of both the younger and older generation which is indispensable for our quest to end harmful traditions such as FGM.

Through my experience with Savera, I reached the conclusion that such harmful traditions are the by-product of a lack of knowledge and the fear of social exclusion which families must be dreading when thinking about rejecting these cultural methods. In conclusion, our aim, when crafting the project, was to ultimately witness the abolishment of FGM and other harmful traditions, which can only be achieved by spreading awareness and trough the education of the younger generation, which is our future.