FGM survivor to teach schools and councils dangers of cutting

A former child victim of female genital mutilation is to help London schools teach pupils about the risks of being cut as part of a drive to prevent violence against women and girls.

Hibo Wardere, who was mutilated in Somalia at the age of six, will also train council officials how to spot girls in danger and provide information to men and others about the lasting harm that cutting can cause.

She will also work with a specialist to offer psychological support to victims of FGM and those who are potentially at risk from the barbaric practice.

Ms Wardere will carry out her work as an “FGM community mediator” as part of a new Waltham Forest team set up under a City Hall project for tackling “harmful practices” in the capital.

Ms Wardere said increasing public awareness of FGM was “key to helping put a stop to it” and that the initiative would help to protect girls.

She added: “I believe there’s much we can do to educate different age groups and communities and better protect and support those at risk. It’s vital to ensure the right kind of support is available, because the psychological consequences of FGM are severe.”

Ms Wardere’s tasks will include organising classes in schools to teach young people about FGM. She will run information sessions across Waltham Forest. One recent event sought to teach Somali men about the medical and other dangers caused by FGM.

Liaquat Ali, Waltham Forest council’s spokesman on community safety and cohesion, said the authority was determined to “end harmful practices” such as FGM. Its team set up to combat violence against women and girls will also tackle domestic and sexual abuse, hate crime, child sexual exploitation, forced marriage and honour-based violence.

The team includes a police officer and six “domestic violence advocates” who will seek to support victims of such abuse and their families.

The pilot scheme involves similar efforts in Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham.

See more on this Topic