OPTIMISTIC TONE REFLECTED AT FGM PANEL DISCUSSION - PORTCULLIS HOUSE, LONDON

Some  key points- Wed October 15th, 2014.

-         Main speakers knew their  subject matter, very well.Hard  facts revealed...
-           UK and Tanzanian government figures  in attendance
-          28 Too Many and Lynne Featherstone –Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development at DFID- strongly believe FGM will end if we all play a small part
-          Men’s involvement will ensure faster results, as men tends to be heads of families in the affected regions
-          Education in rural areas key to ending ignorance around the benefits and values of FGM
-          Those listening and attending also gave strong positive , critical views
-          We cannot let a girl be cut every ten seconds any more
-    It will be tricky to handle the FGM cutters. This is their livelihood. Community coherence is key
-          In Nigeria sales of girl’s clitoris as lucky charms due to FGM made us all gasp
-          Young dead FGM victims in Tanzania thrown into the bushes to be eaten by wild animals
-          Hon Jeremy Lefroy MP for Stafford, kicked off the evening with Swahili words “Mabibi na Mabwana...”
-           Despite thousands of years of the evil foot binding for women in China, campaigns at the beginning of 20^th Century,  intense and determined ended the abhorring practice very quickly.
FGM should follow suit, so said Dr Anne- Marie of 28 Too Many...

•  Feet of a Chinese woman in the old days, before the common evil was abolished. Pic by Jo Farrell

Humanity has developed fast. Yet backward, primitive, inhuman, evil acts continue unabated. Some of these shameful acts are ill treatment of women. 

Violence against women include : honour killings, dowry deaths, human trafficking, sexual slavery, genocide rape (especially in war zones) and FGM. For more graphic materials about FGM check this blog HERE....

IMAGES OF RECENT ANTI- FGM FUNDRAISING IN LONDON : STRUGGLE CONTINUES

Audience at The Russet Hackney, London...listen to the poems of Farida Momtaz...

...So many ills across our planet. Some of us don't even want to watch TV and the news anymore.  But reality never hides. We have to face  facts. Life. Unnecessary wars. Diseases. Female Genital Mutilation. Fact. FGM is no longer a concern for women and girls only. It affects all of us. Boys. Gentlemen. Old and young. Every one. Every little smirk, smack and sneer helps. IT can be done; play your part, Mwalimu Nyerere, used to say.

 Experts have divided FGM into four types. PLEASE click ...HERE...and learn more.

This year's fundraising was May 30th (The Russet), October 2nd (Central Hall Westminster) and Oct 4th (The Russet).  Fundraisers need  money to build a safe house for girls escaping FGM in Mugumu, Mara region Tanzania. The place will also provide runaway girls with training in various skills and education.
If you want to know more and help please click HERE...

According to 28-TOO-MANY...14.6 % of Tanzanian women and girls aged between 15 to 49 have had FGM.

Apart from the age going down to two years, the custom is still done in secret. There are deaths( many deaths, secret deaths, sinister deaths) Mrs Rhobi Samwelly told me last week. Mrs Samwelly is project coordinator. She knows. Bodies chucked into  bushes. Far worse than Ebola victims.
For more on the conversation please read here .
 Now experience  the recent  London events....