People think Female Genital Mutilation is just an African issue. But they are wrong

We know ending FGM within our generation is possible. I blogged for Restless Development about how young people are not only the generation most at risk from FGM, but they are also powerful changemakers ending the practice in their communities.

Many people think FGM is just an African issue. But they are wrong. It’s happening to girls all over the world. There are countries in the Middle East and Asia where it’s known to take place but is under-reported. It’s happening in the USA and across Europe. Even in the UK, where I live, it’s estimated there are 65,000 girls living with it or at risk. That’s not good enough. We need to be doing more to protect our girls.

We need change now. I am a volunteer with Youth For Change, a global movement of young people working together to end gender-based violence in their communities, especially focusing on ending FGM and child marriage.

Muna Hassan, one of the other UK Youth for Change volunteers, was part of the movement that gained over 230,000 signatures to the (then) Education Secretary Michael Gove, calling for him to remind schools of their duty to teach the risks of FGM.