It’s Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) day In line with this years theme “Her Voice Matters”, we’ve launched our first video to raise awareness about the various forms of harmful practices that exists to educate what FGM is and inspire you to learn and/or take action in your community. This will be the first in a series of educational awareness videos about Harmful Practices that will be released at various points of this year. This being the first will focus on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
What is FGM?
FGM comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women. This harmful practice exists all over the world, with 170,000 girls affected in the UK. This year, nearly 4.4 million girls across the world will be at risk of this harmful practice. This equates to more than 12,000 cases every day.
This awareness video is a call to action to Unite 365 days to prevent FGM, featuring Isatu Momoh, Author & Amour Destine Youth Ambassador who is also a survivor of FGM and Abdigani Mohamoud, Founder of B Young Stars & Community Leader in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
What help is available if you/or someone you know are affected by FGM or worried about it happening to you/them?
You can access free support from one of our Advocates, depending on your needs, our advocacy service will also; liaise with organisations on your behalf, arrange and facilitate mediations and help you communicate effectively during meetings to find solutions to your problem.
Call our Advocacy service: 07795417336
Email our Advocacy service: advice@amourdestine.org.uk
If you are in an emergency
In an emergency, or if you or someone you know is in immediate risk of violence or FGM, call the police on 999. If you are unable to talk, you can make a Silent Call from your mobile to the police by dialing 999– then 55. This will alert the police that you are in an emergency. Here is more guidance on how to make a silent call.
Other specialist services in the UK that can help you
- Forward UK
- African Advocacy Foundation
- Bambuuu
- Hersana
- Angelou Centre
- IKROW
- Sign Health
- Your Local Social Services Department – are able to protect you or provide support, you can contact them through your local council
- Your Local Police Child Protection Unit – are able to protect you or provide support, you can contact them through your local police station. If you are in London you can also contact the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Command on 020 7161 2888
“We hope that this series of awareness videos will inspire those that see it, to make a commitment to educate themselves further if it is the first time they are hearing about FGM. You can Unite 365 days with us by leading on your own activism, perhaps it could be inviting specialist organisations like ours or others to visit your workplaces and community to raise awareness about this harmful practice and/or access free support for those who are affected by FGM.
For those in a position of creating change, we need you to hear her voice! As you can be investing in more loving spaces that are created by the community for her voice to be truly heard, and is vital to preventing #GenderBasedAbuse!”
Annie Gibbs, Amour Destine Founder and Female rights & Diversity Campaigner
We are committed to #Unite365Days of the year to ensure issues affecting all women can be seen, heard & no one stands alone because we walk in solidarity against #HarmfulPractices & #GenderBasedAbuse. If you wish to obtain some resources to lead on, we have some which you can easily print and use for your action. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch we would be very happy to share our digital pack with you by emailing info@amourdestine.org.uk.