re that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital
5
Nottingham connected
News & Sports
cal reasons.
al in England and Wales since 1985.
Clit
Warriors
ld abuse and violence Our
against
women
and girls. shaking things up in
this ‘Cutting Season’!
l to protect a girl from the Nottingham
risk of FGM.
against the teachings
of Islam
and
brings I Islam
into
disrepute.
In the
UK, the
summer
explained
to them
about FGM and they think it’s
holidays are referred to as such a cool idea to start a conversation as it was
ealth the of ‘Cutting
our daughters,
sisters,
mothers
at thought
great it risk.
Season’ in relation
to Female
Genital and
not wives
what they
was. They were all asking
Mutilation (FGM). It is during this period where for one”.
d women
both physically, emotionally and psychologically.
many girls are at risk of being taken away to be
I have personally been wearing the T-shirt at
cut
or
cutters
into the have
country undergone
to cut them. FGM
s and women brought
worldwide
events including at the Hyson Green Cultural
‘cutting
season’ to
girls
are flown
abroad,
Festival
and to also
the undergone
Nottingham Sports
r 15 During
who
have
migrated
England
and
Wales
are likely
have
FGM. Group
often under the pretence of a holiday visiting event where we were raising awareness of FGM.
relatives.
On arrival a they
are are
then reported
cut, sometimes
Most of the conversations I had with people
t 200
new cases
year
in Nottingham.
at the hands of someone with no medical training,
with non-sterile instruments including razor
blades, knives and scissors.
started as a result of them reading the message
on the T-shirt and then went to discuss what clit
warrior meant, what FGM is, why it’s practiced the
dangers and how people can get involved. One of
FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, so the interesting incidences was when I was talking
leaving the is country
to keep support?
the practice to a group of women about FGM at the festival
or woman
at risk helps
or need
covert. The risk of parents being caught and and then a gentleman saw my T-shirt and walked
24/7 prosecuted
anonymous
FGM and
helpline
email:
is reduced,
it also or
means
that [email protected]
closer. He started reading the message in the
girls have time to physically heal from the cutting, front and he first seem to be startled and a bit
uncil so Children
and
Families
Direct:
0115
876
4800
detection is reduced when they return to the embarrassed
and then I asked him if he wanted
UK. has
FGM just
impacts
on the physical,
emotional
and us to talk about it. By the end of the conversation,
FGM
happened
or about
to happen
psychological wellbeing of girls and women.
very keen to know how we can engage
medical attention to FGM medical specialist he
in was
Nottingham:
Carol McCormick:
We launched the ‘Cutting Season Campaign’ in more men and religious leaders in the campaign
nhs.uk
or
0115
969
1169
June 2016 to reach out and raise awareness and and he offered his support to do so.
to ensure
and Nottingham,
members of public
support
for communities
survivors in
join are the There
FGM were
Survivor’s
club:
Contact
more than
30 clit
warriors Val-
who took
extra vigilant during the summer season. We then part in different sports at the Nottingham Sports
[email protected]
or
07794372214
started recruiting ‘Clit Warriors’ to help us spread Group events on 30 th and 31 st August at the Forest
the word through
the distribution
of leaflets
and Recreational
d community
in Nottingham
wanting
to make
a difference:
Join For
the a second
Community
Grounds.
year, Mojatu
posters, community sessions and workshops, Foundation recruited girls and women to play
ontact
[email protected]
or
07794372214
engagement with communities and professionals, and this brought both young and older people
taking part in community events and also speaking together from different cultures to enjoy sports,
about FGM to family and friends.
make friends and feel healthier. The ladies played
Help
Actions
We recruited over 50 women including survivors, cricket, table tennis, netball and football. Through
religious leaders, community leaders, councillors, our 2016 ‘Cutting Season’ campaign, we have
pport
survivors, students,
join one
of our
campaigns
or far
projects
reached to over 3, 500 people through
professionals,
young
people
among so
others. Our ‘Clit Warrior’ t-shirts have been our Community FGM Steering Group, Survivor’s
lub outstanding at events and the message reported
• ‘Adopt club,
a tree’
project
Mojatu
magazines, newsletters, leaflets and
posters, community events, training, social media
by
most
of
the
warriors
who
have
been
wearing
oup them say they helped them to engage the • public.
Donate
to support
our
work
platforms
and other
partnerships.
The T-shirts have a message in the front
am We were
of Change
• “I Fundraise
to support
our by work
also joined
a team of students
a Clit Warrior, I speak about FGM” and the back from Nottingham University where we worked
with “End Female Genital Mutilation”. One Clit closely with the Rosie May Foundation to raise
Warrior said “you have no idea how young people awareness. See photos of the male clit warriors
were interested to know what ‘Clit Warrior’ meant helping with raising awareness
when they
saw the message in Mobile:
front of my 07794372214
T-shirt.
Phone:
01158457009
ore information, contact Mojatu Foundation
[email protected] Website: www.mojatufoundation.org
This project was supported by