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Help end FGM in one generation - join the Thunderclap

44 replies

KateMumsnet · 05/02/2014 17:39

Tomorrow is International Day for Zero Tolerance towards Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - a day to break the silence around FGM, and hopefully, make a statement that can't be ignored.

125 million women and girls around the world have been subjected to this horrific form of violence - and 30 million girls are at risk of being cut over the next decade. These women have suffered a lifetime of damage, sometimes even death, as a consequence. In the UK, it's estimated that over 20,000 girls are at risk every year - and that 66,000 women in the UK are already living with the consequences of FGM.

We know that this is an issue that many MNers feel passionate about - and there's a growing movement calling for the eradication of this brutal practice within a single generation. But it's a huge task, and requires everyone who cares about the issue to stand together and say 'enough'.

The Department for International Development has organised a Thunderclap to help amplify the voices of those who want to end FGM. A Thunderclap is a mass Tweet or Facebook post - it's incredibly simple to join in, and takes literally seconds. Your Tweet or post will be 'released' at 11.30am tomorrow, along with those of everyone else who has participated - with luck making a massive noise across social media globally.

So do join in with a Twitter storm and Facebook frenzy this International Zero Tolerance Day, by sharing this statement via Thunderclap: I'm calling for an end to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Retweet & take a stand this Zero Tolerance Day! Together we can #endFGM

If you have another moment, take another look at this recent guest post from FGM survivor, mother and Daughters of Eve activist Leyla Hussain - '[[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/guest_posts/a1903396-Leyla-Hussein-on-FGM-Making-sure-my-daughter-wasnt-cut-is-my-greatest-achievement
Making sure my daughter wasn't cut is my greatest achievement]]'. It's an inevitably upsetting but incredibly powerful read - and a great reminder of the dreadful impact of FGM on women and girls in this country and around the world.

UPDATE Norman Baker MP will be joining Mumsnet for a live webchat tomorrow (Thurs 6th) on FGM and the Government's response. Please do post your questions here

OP posts:
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SomewhatSilly · 05/02/2014 17:56

Thunderclap link not working

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Crumblemum · 05/02/2014 17:58

Ooh never tried a Thunderclap - will do on my twitter.

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KatieMumsnet · 05/02/2014 18:06

Thunderclap links should be working now

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YoniMatopoeia · 05/02/2014 18:53

v good. No idea what a thunderclap is, but marking place so I can do this when the laptop is fired up.

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fusspot66 · 05/02/2014 19:35

I just shared the article to my FB via share button on phone.

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fusspot66 · 05/02/2014 19:39

I just shared the article to my FB via share button on phone.

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TheGonnagle · 05/02/2014 19:47

Done, and added to my fb profile to urge others on.

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KingRollo · 05/02/2014 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ParsleyTheLioness · 05/02/2014 20:14

Tweeted. I suppose it raises awareness.

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lovesteaandcake · 05/02/2014 20:17

Added via Facebook here too

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KingRollo · 05/02/2014 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NearTheWindmill · 05/02/2014 20:39

I don't do facebook or twitter. What is MNet doing. What is MNet doing to support legal action in the UK against people who mutilate their dds whilst living in this country? What is MNet doing to ensure every a&e department reports to all agencies when it becomes aware? What is MNet doing to apply pressure on government.

Twitter and Facebook my backside! Let's see some proper statements going into government from the Guardianistas - or is that too unpolitically correct.

This has actually made me very very cross Justine and I hope there will be an announcement from you very soon rather than a metaphorical "thunderclap".

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KingRollo · 05/02/2014 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 05/02/2014 21:38

I think raising awareness is so important with FGM though.
Thanks to MNHQ for adding their support to this.

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KatieMumsnet · 05/02/2014 22:03

Hiya

Just wanted to pop on and try to answer a couple of the points up above. We do know this isn't the answer to stopping FGM, and we know it's only a very small thing people can do. But it is a way people can start to raise awareness of FGM, and it's what Daughters of Eve asked us to do, when we asked how we could support the day of action.

We have also just had it confirmed that Norman Baker, Home Office Minister will come on for a webchat tomorrow to discuss the issue and think that will be a great opportunity for Mumsnet users to make the strength of feeling known and push for more information on prosecutions and UK action on this.

We hope this is a good place to start. I'll just go an start the Norman Baker webchat thread and then pop back here and post a link.

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Alambil · 05/02/2014 22:13

sounds like a great start... everything has to start somewhere and awareness is the first port of call, obviously

I'd never even heard of it until I'd done safeguarding training through my job..... I wonder how many other people "out there" haven't even heard of it, let alone thought about what it actually is and does to girls and women.

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KatieMumsnet · 05/02/2014 22:25

Hi

Please do post your questions to the Home Office Minister responsible for FGM on this thread here. The webchat will take place tomorrow between 12pm and 1pm.

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NearTheWindmill · 05/02/2014 22:48

I'm glad you posted again. Thank you. I'd love to participate tomorrow but will be at work.

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KatieMumsnet · 05/02/2014 23:02

Hi NearTHeWindmill you can hop on the thread now and post a question in advance if you like.

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jazzy01 · 06/02/2014 00:09

Done xx

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perfectstorm · 06/02/2014 07:01

There's something else people can do, in terms of targeted raisibg awareness. A coalition of charities are asking people to sign this petition. The aim is to get the subject into schools.

A 17-year-old student is calling on Michael Gove to help end female genital mutilation in Britain by asking headteachers to train and inform teachers and parents about the horrors of the practice.

Fahma Mohamed is urging the education secretary to write to the leaders of all primary and secondary schools, urging them to flag up the dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM) before the summer holidays, when girls are at the greatest risk. An estimated 66,000 women and girls in the UK have been victims of FGM.

She adds her voice to a broad coalition of global charities and campaigners who have joined with the Guardian to urge Gove to act. Supporters can add their names to a petition on the Change.org campaigning website. "If every single headteacher was given the right information, we could reach every single girl who is at risk of FGM," said Fahma, from Bristol. "We could convince these families not to send their daughters abroad and help those girls at risk."

According to government figures more than 20,000 British girls are thought to be at risk of being cut every year but, despite previous government promises to stop FGM, experts have warned that girls are not only still being taken abroad to be cut during the holiday "cutting season", but are also being mutilated in Britain.

Medical groups, trade unions and human rights organisations estimate that there were 66,000 UK victims of FGM in the UK and more than 24,000 girls under the age of 15 were at risk. Victims can be as young as just a few weeks old.

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EirikurNoromaour · 06/02/2014 07:14

I wonder how many people who work in public services actually think about and consider FGM in their work. If this just makes people hold the possibility in their minds that will be a good step. Too many children are harmed because people don't even consider that harm might be occurring - FGM is a type of harm that people barely consider and this is wrong. We should be asking the questions and weighing the risk and doing something to prevent it.

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JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2014 08:57

I agree with you Eirikur and perfectstorm, I've worked in schools in teaching and teaching support roles, and think much more could be done to raise awareness in schools. I've posted a question for Norman Baker on this on the web-chat thread. I'm just going over to see if there are other questions there yet - last night my one was all on it's own Sad

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BarbiesBeaver · 06/02/2014 09:16

Joined the FB campaign. I'd be interested to know what is being done globally to educate on this awful practise.

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BarbiesBeaver · 06/02/2014 09:19

Have also signed the Gove petition.

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