Lorraine viewers praise FGM survivor for 'incredible bravery'

FGM survivor reveals how she was subject to the abusive procedure when she was just SIX and says practice is ‘cruel beyond words’ and ‘effects your soul’

• Hibo Wardere was only six when she became a victim of genital mutilation
• Born in Somali and now living in the UK, she now campaigns to stop the practice 
• Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, she explained how there are 140,000 women living with the effect of FGM in the UK 

A survivor of Female Genital Mutilation has been praised for her ‘incredible bravery’  after appearing on ITV Lorraine’s this morning.

Hibo Wardere, was just six when she was subject to the abusive procedure at the hands of her mother and aunt, while living in Somalia.

Now living in the UK, she has dedicated her life to campaigning for awareness of FGM, with viewers branding the mother-of-seven ‘inspirational’.   

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, she explained how there are 140,000 women living with the effect of FGM in the UK.

‘It’s cruel, it’s beyond words, it’s something that stays with you for the rest of your life.  You’ve been given a life sentence stamp that day that happens to you,’ she explained.      

Hibo Wardere, was just six when she was subject to the abusive procedure at the hands of her mother and aunt, while living in Somalia. Now living in the UK, she has dedicated her life to campaigning for awareness of FGM, with viewers branding the mother-of-seven ‘inspirational’.

‘It’s there, it’s part of your life, you can’t get away with it,  in your soul.

‘In my community it’s done to preserve virginity. They take away your clitoris so you don’t have sexual urges, they seal you up and leave you with tiny hole so you don’t even dream of having sex. It’s all about preserving you for your future husband’.

She went on to explain how her mother and aunt did the procedure due as it’s a ‘social norm’ and it wasn’t coming from a place of abuse.   

‘For them, its about preserving your future.

‘It’s about being in that setting where all the girls’ are cut. If you’re the only mum that hasn’t cut your girl, people will say you’re not going to get married. 

‘It’s not coming from a place of abuse, it’s a social norm. It affects you in every single part of you  

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, she explained how there are 140,000 women living with the effect of FGM in the UK.

The mother-of-seven also touched on the agony of the procedure, and how it damages women when they give birth.

‘Your labia is designed to help you when you are having a child, it expands when you have a baby.

What’s the law on FGM in the UK? 

Female genital mutilation has been a specific offence in the UK since the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. The 1985 Act was replaced by the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

It now includes assisting and taking children abroad to be cut.

There have been just three other trials involving FGM – two in London and one in Bristol – which all ended in acquittals while some 298 prevention orders have been put in place to safeguard children at risk.

Carrying out FGM currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

‘I don’t have a labia it can’t expand. 

‘I live in the UK, so I’m very lucky, but people living in developing countries, the death rate, is so high so women delivering babies’.

But Hibo was keen to articulate that the problem is happening in the UK too.

More than 200 cases of FGM were performed on women and girls born in the UK between April 2019 and March 2020.

Some 6,590 women and girls had a procedure to treat their FGM or were identified as having experienced FGM previously on the NHS in that time period.

Of these, 205 were women or girls who had been born in the UK, according to an annual report from NHS Digital.

FGM, the intentional altering or injuring of the female genitals for non-medical reasons, has been illegal in the UK for more than three decades.

The law was strengthened in 2003 to prevent girls travelling from the UK and undergoing FGM abroad.   

‘It’s happening here, on our doorstep, a lot of people don’t want to know about it,’ Hibo said.  

‘These are British children that have a right to be protected.  

‘Its about time we talk about it, it’s in abuse, if we don’t talk about abuse it thrives in secrecy, we have to be brave and bold about it.

‘It’s the worst form of child abuse, you can’t put religion of race on it, whoever it is happening to its child abuse,  you have to leave your comfort zone, you have to have a humanity anger. 

She added that ‘education is the biggest tool’  in stopping the practice, which is done ‘by people of all faiths’.  

Hibo’s appearance was praised by viewers, with one writing: ‘Brilliant as always’.

Hibo’s appearance was praised by viewers, with one writing: ‘Brilliant as always’.

Another said: ‘It was an incredible segment on #FGM on Lorraine  by Hibo Wardere. Incredibly passionate and knowledgeable.’

A third wrote: ‘Such an important discussion about ending #FGM on @lorraine this morning. Thank you to @HiboWardere for sharing your story, raising awareness and helping to save the lives of women and young girls.’

One added: ‘ What a inspirational speaker. So passionate. I want to help where I can. This must stop..’

Another said: ‘I admire this woman.

While one wrote: ‘What a remarkable woman. FGM is abuse. It needs brave people like her to come forward and stop these young girls being abused. It’s time for change. Safeguarding and protecting these girls needs requires change now.’ 

Source: Read Full Article