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This article has been written by Olivia Bridge who writes for the Immigration Advice Service – a team of UK and Ireland immigration lawyers – and ImmigrationNews.co.uk.

Parliament in the UK is undoubtedly living through an era of unprecedented turmoil as MPs remain embroiled in Brexit rows, regional divisions over COVID-19 lockdown plans and free school meals for children. However, amidst all the noise, focus on eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) has become lost, despite its alarming uptick.

Guest Blog by Maryam Sheikh for International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM 2020

I am a survivor of FGM, cut at the age of 6 and the worst form of FGM (type 3). As a Somali girl, I grew up knowing every Muslim girl is cut and that my community did ‘a bad type’ because of our culture.

Guest blog by Zahra from SIMAHO

As an ancient tribal tradition, FGM has been adopted by many countries, particularly in Africa. It is wrongly believed to be a religious requirement and done to “protect” girls. Also, it is believed to prevent excessive clitoral growth and preserve virginity to ensure marriageability. Therefore, it has highly affected many village girls in Kenya with levels highest among Somali and Muslim women. From the age of six and up to teenage years, girls have forcibly undergone FGM. This action is a five-level effect; childhood, girlhood, marriage and sexual intercourse, pregnancy and childbirth, and later life.

Guest Blog by ZamZam Jama, Youth Anti FGM Somaliland

FGM/C is a traditional practice in which part of or the entire external female genitalia is removed. Some communities refer to it as female circumcision (FC). The severe effects of FGM/FGC on the health of girls and women have been widely documented. FGM/FGC results in complications at birth for both mother and child, sometimes leading to death. The practice has strong repercussions on the health of women and on the social, political and economic fabric at individual and community levels.

Guest blog by Valerian Mganiis, an anti-FGM campaigner from Tanzania and a member of Arukah Network.  

FGM is engrained in our culture. Where I live and work, it is believed to be an order from the spirit. The belief goes like this: if a girl has not been cut, then she cannot be accepted in the community. But once she has been cut, she is ready for child marriage, she can be taken out of school, and she can get pregnant at a young age. And so FGM does not just cut a girl’s body, it cuts short her life prospects too. It is at the root of all sorts of social problems that hold back women.

Guest blog by Chantalle Okondo, Assistant Program Officer with Population Council. 

The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) brings awareness of the need to globally eradicate FGM/C. However, it can be difficult to ensure that no girl or women is left behind on a local level. This could not be truer when it comes to West Pokot County on the western side of Kenya, where FGM/C is nearly universal (85 - 94%)^{1, 2} despite the practice being outlawed by the National Government.

Guest Blog by Mama Sylla, FGM survivor and Chairwoman of la Fraternite Guineenne. 

I grew up in a society where I had been led to believe that FGM/C was normal and justified.  In Guinea the practice of FGM is still widespread and the belief is that a girl has to undergo FGM in order to be accepted later as an accomplished woman.

Guest Blog by Hope Gloria Mugambi Mwanyuma, Founder: Hope Alive Africa Initiative: A safe space for girls is a place where women and girls can go to at any time to feel safer and empowered and have access to information, education, recreational activities, support and services.

Guest Blog by Mohammed Gaber: FGM in Yemen is distributed throughout the country but predominates in four main cities; Aden, Al-Hodiedah, Al-Mhrah, and Hadramout. In 2001, the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population (YMoPHP) enacted a decree to ban public and private health facilities from performing FGM. However, some facilities still carry out the practice.

Guest Blog from Richard A. Powell, Mohamed Yussuf, and Bettina Shell-Duncan, Population Council “Evidence to End FGM/C” For decades female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has been debated in dozens of countries around the world. But it is in Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa, where a recent fatwa, or religious edict, has rekindled a passionate debate of ‘zero tolerance’ versus ‘acceptable harm minimization’

Guest Blog from Bakary Seedy Dampha, Founder and National Coordinator, Kids Come First, The Gambia. The Girl Generation organized the first ever Pan African youth summit held from 25-26 April 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit brought together 170 young people from 17 countries including diaspora in the UK.

Guest Blog by Abdullahi Mohamed Abdinur, Health and Hunger Aid. Health and Hunger Aid (HhAid) is a non-governmental organization, free from political, clans, religion and ethnic divisions, works with thousands of youth in urban and rural areas throughout Northern Kenya. HhAid strives to create a future where communities are able to facilitate their own development. HhAid works in program areas of Sexual and Reproductive and right, Food security, Water and Sanitation as well as HIV/AIDS awareness/mitigation.

Guest Blog by Sam Cook, Feed the Minds. Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) approaches – that use an alternative ritual to FGM to symbolise a girl’s transition to womanhood – sound great on the surface. But are they an effective strategy for abandonment of FGM that can be applied in other communities? And who else needs to be involved to ensure long term change?

Guest Blog by the Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP). In Igbo land, FGM is usually carried out to coincide with the child’s naming ceremony, which is a festive event with gifts and refreshments. In Igbo culture, the naming ceremony comes up almost immediately after the birth of the child. It is normally done on the 7^th to the 12^th day after the birth of the child. When a child is born in Igbo land, he or she is welcomed into the world with joyous songs.

Guest Blog by the Pastoralist Child Foundation. Since 2013, Pastoralist Child Foundation’s (PCF) Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) have been instrumental in lowering the rate of FGM in Samburu, Kenya. We have managed to decrease the former rate of 96% in East Samburu Ward down to 80%. Our replacement for “the cut” is through education and celebrations for groups of 60 girls during their school holidays in April, August, and December. 

Guest Blog by Millicent Ondigo for Amref Health Africa. It began one and a half years ago with the birth of the ‘Yes I Do Alliance-Kenya Programme’. The Yes I Do Alliance had one purpose of contributing to the reduction of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), child marriage and teenage pregnancies among the Maa community residing in Kajiado West Sub County of Kajiado in Kenya.

Guest Blog by Miranda Dobson, Orchid Project. 

SAFE Maa is a Kenyan-based NGO and UK charity working with the Maasai in the Loita Hills, South West Kenya, on ending female genital cutting (FGC), environmental sustainability, and addressing HIV and AIDS. They have been delivering programmes since 2008, and are dedicated to changing the attitudes surrounding FGC in Loita as a way to help create community-led change. Orchid Project partnered with SAFE Maa in 2013 to support an awareness-raising performance tour on FGC and have continued to work closely with them ever since.

Guest post by Barrister Ugwu Somtochukwu Nnamdi, Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP). Did you know that currently in Nigeria, 20 million women and girls have been mutilated and yet there has been no conviction? Although, there are so many reasons for this, but in this article we dwelt on the two major reasons for this in Nigeria.

Guest Blog by Kadi Doumbia. I have been trying to find out about a reason why girls have to undergo female genital mutilation, but unfortunately, I have not yet found any valid reasons to why we, girls must undergo this practice; perhaps there is no reason at all other than myths and ignorance.

Guest Blog by Ayomikun Emmanuel Olugbode. The need for us to act as a nation against this practice cannot be overemphasized when practices or beliefs that can hamper the education of our girls are being done. One of the purposes of education is to enable the girl child to realize her rights and participate like her counterparts in the society. This practice of FGM/C in Nigeria has hindered many girls from achieving this purpose.

Guest blog by Mama Sylla. For the 16 days of activism, I deem it necessary to describe this blog to be able to explain the reasons and the causes which push the parents to maim their daughters and at what price? The whole ceremony can be done during a month during the school holidays between July and September.

Guest Blog by Dorian Cosijnse. Uganda is one of the 28+ countries where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is practised. As stipulated on this website, the estimated prevalence lingers around 1.4% amongst women in the age of 15 till 49. Although this national figure is relatively low, prevalence amongst the Pokot tribe in the Eastern part of the country is near-universal (95%) ¹. This guest blog is written in Amudat, a district in the Karamoja region, and aims to give an insight in the harmful cultural practice of FGM amongst this unique tribe in East-Uganda.

The girls in GESL decided to take on a national issue relevant to the needs of girls, that they wanted to raise awareness on. The girls decided to focus on educating their peers on the negative impacts of FGM through an advocacy media campaign. This blog showcases pieces by two of the girls in GESL,  Finda Karimu and Fatamta Bah. The GESL girls are raising awareness via social media and other platforms on their project titled “FGM E do So” (FGM Enough!). We hope you are inspired by Finda and Fatmata’s reflection.

Guest Blog by Brighter Communities Worldwide. Brighter Communities Worldwide is a community based organisation with 15 years of experience. In 2009 they incorporated a Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Abandonment programme into the scope of work they were doing with communities in Kericho County; the need for this programme was identified from within communities.

What do literacy and FGM have in common? One could eradicate the other.

This week International Literacy Day reminds us that education is one of the most fundamental ways in which we can build a sustainable future for all. It empowers individuals to bring about lasting change at a community, national and global level.

FGM affects 88% of women and girls in Sierra Leone and over 200 million women and girls around the world. It has no health benefits and is an extreme form of violence and discrimination. Since our launch up until now we have engaged both digitally as well as in Sierra Leone and the diaspora and have positioned the platform to be the only multicultural, multidisciplinary anti-FGM platform focused on Sierra Leone.

Hope Alive Africa Initiative is running a campaign on ending teenage pregnancy and ending female genital mutilation in Africa, and Kwale county is the first County in Kenya we have had our campaign outreach. One of the issues facing the county is increased population due to unplanned and unwanted teenage pregnancies leading to increased poverty and illiteracy rates.

As signatories to the UN Goals, African countries are obliged to ensure that the realization of these goals impacts the lives of the African child. With several goals directly linked to the African child, Africa stands to gain immensely from the implementation of these goals.

Guest blog by Raymond Chima Ukwa, End FGM Ambassador. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an unhealthy practice, inflicted on girls and women worldwide, and it is generally recognized as a violation of human rights, which is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and perceptions over decades and generations with no easy task for change. This blog post explores the issue of FGM in Nigeria where it is estimated that 27% of the women have undergone the procedure.

By Tichafara Chisaka. On Wednesday 8th March, I attended an event on behalf of 28 Too Many, organised by Garden Court Chambers, on the subject of tackling the cycle of violence against women. The discussions focused on tackling violence against women in the wider context/ structural barriers, tackling violence against women within the context of the law/ legal frameworks, and practical ways of tackling violence against women on the ground.

Guest blog by Esther Njenga. Nancy is a bubbly, kind and intelligent girl who just last year successfully completed high school. Getting to this landmark stage of her life is nothing but a journey of courage and sacrifice not only for her but also for her two brothers who have stood by her through her trying times.

Guest blog by Noa Marson. It is difficult as a young person to understand one’s role in the fight against FGM. I don’t blame you; in the western world it can seem to be such a distant issue, and wherever you are in the world, it can feel like a helpless cause. FGM has been occurring for thousands of years and is engrained in worldwide cultures, so what is the point in young people standing up against tradition? 

Guest blog by Natalie Robi. As a young girl in my community no one ever told  me the harmful effects of the cut,  all everyone spoke about is how you will become a woman and stop being a child. A celebration during the cutting season made someone feel very special because goats and even a cow would be slaughtered for your ceremony. It was every young girl’s dreams.

Guest blog by Bakary Seedy Dampha Programme Manager Kids Come First in The Gambia. FGM is no longer a new thing in the Gambia and I’m impressed with the amount of youth involvement and engagement in ending FGM in a generation. Addressing the life threatening and global concern, the Girl Generation has currently a membership of 50 organisations in the Gambia. 

Guest blog by Tony Mwebia. Today is International Day to Zero Tolerance against FGM and my plea to fellow youths and especially men is to join this noble cause and stand to be counted in making this world a better place for women and girls. As youths we stand to benefit most by achievement of SDGs, with elimination of harmful cultural practices being key in realization of SDG 5. 

Guest Blog by Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, Journalist/Founder and News Director. For the last 16 days I have witnessed an overwhelming scene on social media of something I thought I was dealing with alone. Female Genital Mutilation. FGM was performed on me at age 5 and I will never forget the event. It is still etched in my mind and when reporter Ludovica Iaccino mentioned she was doing a story about it at the International Business Times.

Guest Blog from Kirthi Jayakumar, Founder of The Red Elephant Foundation. The consequences of FGM on the health, both physical and psychological, are tremendous. There is a need for health care, concentrated assistance to repatriate the dangerous impact, and also, in many communities, a desperate need to help the women stand on their own feet if they choose to escape the dangerous treatment.

Guest Blog from Bakary Seedy Damph (Buba). Bakary Seedy Damph (Buba) founded and runs Kids Come First Foundation, a community based advocacy group that offers support and empowers children irrespective of their backgrounds. The foundation addresses issues such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage and provides affected children and their families with psychological, financial and emotional support based on a fair assessment of their needs.

Guest Blog by Ayako Fujihara. This paper employs a cross-country comparison of the role of NGOs in advocating an end to FGM, in order to explore what can be done in countries that have legislated against the practice but have seen limited success in enforcement. As of 2015, 25 countries in Africa have legislations or decrees against FGM. Practices in Togo and Benin will be discussed as both countries have seen a significant decline in the prevalence rate of FGM over the past 2 decades.

Guest blog by Dr Chris Ugwu, Executive Director, Society for the Improvement of Rural people (SIRP) informed guests at the Obollo-Afor celebration that the formal launch of the FGM Country profile was organized in collaboration with an UK NGO ‘28 Too Many’.  

We have had an incredibly busy few months delivering training sessions to key audiences across the UK, advocacy work with governments, working together with Project Literacy and continuing our partnership with Cricket without Boundaries. In addition, we launched our first thematic report on FGM and Medicalisation and our research for our country profiles has been steaming ahead at full speed.

Today is International Literacy Day and as a Communications Manager, literacy is something that obviously comes high up on my agenda. But literacy really is something that should be on everyone´s agenda because, astonishingly, over 750 million people in the world are illiterate, two-thirds of them women.

Guest blog by Andrew Mendy. The fight to end FGM in the Gambia and other practicing nations will almost be impossible without the active involvement and participation of men. Hence, it is important that all stakeholders in this fight get the men on board sooner rather than later.  This is crucial as the men in their roles as fathers, husbands, community and religious leaders may play a leading and pivotal role in the abandonment of FGM.

Recently, I asked an Egyptian medical doctor whether he had ever encountered FGM. He had indeed encountered it. He told me that he was once at a hospital and was asked whether he would circumcise two children. He agreed, assuming that both children were boys, but then it turned out that one was a boy and the other a girl. 

Research blog by Louise Ferdjani. A research blog on the the role of the global media and multi-lateral partnership campaigns and movements in tackling FGM in Africa. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a taboo subject in many places where it is practised and the nature of campaigning on the issue has evolved in response to this over the years.

Guest blog by Esther Njenga. Sixteen months after our first visit to the home of the impressive Maasai Cricket Warriors (MCW), Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) and 28 Too Many were back to Laikipia North; this time joined by two coaches from the Lancashire County Cricket Club Foundations who were eager to learn how the tripartite teams use cricket to educate and campaign on important community issues has worked.

Guest blog by Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell. To mark the Day of the African Child we are pleased to share a guest blog by Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell, Global Director of The Girl Generation on why we must abandon all forms of FGM and prevent its medicalisation. The Medicalisation of FGM report from the 28 Too Many charity argues that a medicalised version of the practice has increased in a number of countries.

28 Too Many’s new report investigates the growing involvement of health professionals in FGM and highlights what actions need to be taken to reverse this dangerous trend. Medicalised FGM remains a very risky procedure and does nothing to mitigate the fact that this is a severe form of violence against girls and women, a violation of their human rights and has life-long physical, emotional and sexual implications for survivors.

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson. Last week I was pleased to be able to attend a performance of Charlene James' new play Cuttin' It at the Young Vic. This is an uncompromising piece of work which takes an important look at the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK. The play explores the issue of FGM through the views of two teenage girls, born in Somalia and now living in London.

Jules, aged 32 from Dunstable, is a volunteer for the HIV/AIDS and FGM Awareness Charity, Cricket Without Boundaries. Despite only taking up running 18 months ago Jules Farman is about to take on a 60 mile run over the Pennines between Leeds and Manchester in 2.5 days to raise awareness about FGM.

Research blog by Megan Park. The failure to respond adequately to the growing prevalence of FGM in the UK over recent years has likely resulted in the preventable mutilation of thousands of girls to whom the state owed a duty of care. This is a national scandal for which successive governments, politicians, the police, health, education and social care sectors all share responsibility.
(Home Affairs Committee, 2014, Conclusions and Recommendations)

Research blog by Serene Chung. A research blog by Serene Chung which investigates the psychological effects of female genital mutilation (FGM) within migrant communities in the United Kingdom. Considering avaiable literature and interviews with experts, Serene analyses the psychological disorders suffered by the individual, considering their migrant cultural identity and also considers the psychological impact of FGM in the context of relationships between the women and their spouses or families.

Over the past six months and despite undertaking demanding academic studies, a dedicated group of undergraduates at Oxford University formed a research panel and have undertaken extra work to study female genital mutilation (FGM). In this unique collaboration between the Oxford University branch of Lawyers Without Borders and 28 Too Many, students volunteered to join this project to educate themselves and others on the harm of FGM and how we can help end this practice.

Guest blog by Anna Sørensen. “FGM isn’t something that’s isolated to one place or one group of people. It’s a wider feminist issue, a human issue, which needs to be addressed collectively.”
-    Alice Denny

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. London Mayoral candidate Sophie Walker from Women’s Equality Party recently launched her manifesto of changes the party is pledging to make if it is voted in. One of pledges made by the party is to work in partnership with specialist BME women’s services to ensure cultural related violence, such as female genital mutilation, will never happen in London. 

Guest blog by Imuetinyan Ugiagbe. A first-generation Nigerian filmmaker Solomon Onita Jr. in his most recent short film, Joy, explores the cultural clashes of a Nigerian family living in the United States. In the film, he tells the story of a woman who is trying to convince her husband not to circumcise their ten years old daughter, poetically named Joy. It tells the story of a women's struggle to protect her daughter from the harm of FGM whilst being true to her cultural heritage.

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. In a recent The Guardian article, 28 Too Many’s researcher Gemma Locke suggests that ending female genital mutilation in Mali must be a Malian-led initiative. She said: “It has to be Malian to Malian, that has to be within the community, within the family, and beyond… ownership has to be with indigenous people, because if it’s not owned, it won’t keep. It’s not going to be sustainable.” 

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. An update on recent news, events and progress in the global movement to end FGM by 28 Too Many volunteer Anna Sørensen. Former midwife Kubra Magennis and a mother of two from the Dawoodi Bohra community have each been sentenced to 15 months in prison. They were found guilty in November of carrying out female genital mutilation on the two daughters of the unnamed mother.

Guest blog by Andrew Mendy. The recent developments in the fight against FGM in The Gambia have been very encouraging. A guest blog by campaigner Andrew Mendy reflecting on progress in the fight against FGM in The Gambia and what further action is needed. 

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. An update on some of this week's news and events in the campaign to end FGM by 28 Too Many volunteer Anna Sørensen. 

“When I learned the truth about the danger, lifelong health complications, the pain women go through having the practice done, and even death, I realised I couldn’t let this happen to another girl again.”
- Gift Augustine

Guest Blog by Margaret Gati. A special blog for International Women's Day 2016 from 28 Too Many volunteer Margaret Gati about FGM in Kenya and the progress towards ending it.

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. An update on some of this week's news and events in the campaign to end FGM by 28 Too Many volunteer Anna Sørensen.

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. The latest campaign news from 28 Too Many and updates on progress to end FGM by our regular blogger Anna Sørensen.

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. An update on some of this week's news and events in the campaign to end FGM by 28 Too Many volunteer Anna Sørensen.

Campaign update by Anna Sørensen. The first in a series of blogs 28 Too Many volunteer Anna Sørensen. Studying journalism at Goldsmiths College, University of London, Anna will be reporting on progress in the campaign to end FGM in the UK and internationally. This week she highlights the work across the globe for International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM.

As we mark the United Nations International Day for Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 2016 learn more about FGM and what you can do to be part of the global movement against this harmful practice. Together we can be the generation that ends FGM.

Guest blog by Nigeen Dara. A new blog by medical student Nigeen Dara to mark the UN International Day for Zero Tolerance to FGM.

A quarterly update from Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson. The end of 2015 involved a flurry of activity. Apart from our awareness training in the UK,covering several hundred attendees in Glasgow with Bishop Gregor Duncan and the Mother’s Union in London, we met with the Department for International Development (DfID) to talk about anti FGM engagement.

Guest blog by Jacqueline Hoover. A blog by 28 Too Many Trustee Jacqueline Hoover on the Fifth Dropping the Knife ceremony in The Gambia hosted by anti-FGM organisation GAMCOTRAP.

Guest blog by Jacqueline Hoover. 28 Too Many Trustee Jacqueline Hoover reports on the Youth Forum on FGM organised by Kids Come First Foundation and held in Wellingara, The Gambia on 28 - 29 November 2015.

3 out of 4 girls and women in Burkina Faso have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) but new research indicates that attitudes are changing.

Guest blog by Sarajane Rodgers. In her new blog psychology student Sarajane Rodgers explores the impact of FGM on survivors.

The police must better understand honour-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation in order to provide victims with the best possible service and encourage those affected to come forward, a report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found today.

A quarterly update from Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson. We were delighted to partner with Ogilvy and Mather, a leading advertising agency, to roll out a European poster campaign informing the general population about FGM. The “It Happens Here” campaign featured posters of six European flags (UK, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Scotland and Italy) across billboards, university campuses,and the media.

Guest blog by Julia Farman. Julia from Cricket Without Boundaries writes about how sport has the power to engage and empower girls and women.

A blog by Noa Marson, youth ambassador for 28 Too Many writes about an inspiring evening at the Warriors film premiere and special Q&A session held in London on 13th November.

The Dahlia Project is a specialist service for women who have undergone FGM. The Project aims to provide a safe space for women and girls to unpack the effects of FGM. It offers a support group or one to one counselling for survivors of FGM, ensuring a safe and non-judgemental environment for all women.

Guest blog by Nigeen Dara. A new blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Nigeen who campaigns against FGM and raises awareness of this as an issue for women from the Middle East and especially Kurdistan. In this blog she tells the story of a young Kurdish woman who is a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Last night 28 Too Many was announced as Advertiser of the Year at the Clio Awards its provocative anti-female genital mutilation (FGM)* campaign, “It Happens Here", with Ogilvy & Mather London.

Guest blog by Helena Sharpstone. 28 Too Many ambassador Helena Sharpstone blogs about why she has decided to celebrate her upcoming birthday by helping others.

Guest blog by Noa Marson. 28 Too Many Youth Ambassador Noa Marson and her friend Laura Lewis recently cycled around London wearing animal costumes to raise money to help end FGM. read their blog about an unusual day!

Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson reflects on a busy few months for 28 Too Many and the progress we are seeing in tackling FGM.

Guest blog by Hannah Cotton. 17 year old Hannah Cotton recently completed a project on FGM and is now sharing her newly acquired knowledge to help end the practice and protect other girls from being cut.

Guest blog by Tamsyn Radmall. Student Tamsyn reflecting on what she has learnt about FGM during her summer placement with 28 Too Many.

Guest blog by Nigeen Dara. A new blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Nigeen Dara highlights FGM in the Middle East. As we get better information about FGM in different countries we must ensure that action is taken wherever FGM is found to be taking place and that those working to stop the practice are supported.

Last night the 28 Too Many team were delighted to attend the gala premiere of WARRIORS, a documentary that follows the progress of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, our partners in an anti-FGM programme in Kenya.

Guest blog by Karen Walkden. 28 Too Many Trustee Karen Walkden reviews the recent conference hosted by the British Psychological Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology’s Faculty for Sexual Health and HIV held an event for clinicians and others working with women impacted by FGM.

Blog by Dr Ann-Marie Wilson. A report on a week of meetings and hopeful discussions on ending FGM in Mali as Ann-Marie and Tina conclude their month in West Africa.

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson and Tina Bellamy. A new blog from Ann-Marie and Tina as they continue their visit to West Africa with a colourful and rewarding 8 days in Senegal.

Released for the Day of the African Child 2015, a new country profile on FGM in Senegal by 28 Too Many reports that an estimated 25.7% of girls and women (aged 14-59) have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) and this figure has not changed significantly over the past ten years. 

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson and Tina Bellamy. A blog on a busy 8 days in The Gambia, meeting anti-FGM campaigners, sharing our research on FGM and learning how we can support local efforts to stop FGM.

Guest blog by Sarasvathi Arulampalam. One year on from the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Global Summit, law student Sarasvathi Arulampalam reflects on what was achieved and why we must continue to prioritise this issue.

Guest blog by Nigeen Dara. Despite predating Islam and Christianity many people believe FGM to be a religious practice. In her latest blog 28 Too Many volunteer Nigeen Dara investigates the Islamic view on FGM to increase understanding and challenge harmful misconceptions about the practice.

Guest Blog by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird. We are very pleased to share this guest blog by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird QC on why tackling violence against Girls and Women, including FGM, is a priority and how she wants to improve the response in Northumbria and nationally.

A guest blog by 28 Too Many Ambassador Louise Hunt. Louise is a paralympian wheelchair tennis player with a passion for encouraging others and making sure everyone can fulfill their true potential. read her blog about why she has joined the campaign to help end FGM.

A book review by Youth Ambassador Noa Marson. 28 Too Many's Youth Ambassador Noa Marson reviews "What Was Never Said", the new book by writer and teacher Emma Craigie. A gripping and sensitively written story of a young girl seeking safety from the harmful practice of female genitial mutilation (FGM).

Guest blog by Chris O'Hanlon. Hoping to inspire more men to join the fight against FGM, 28 Too Many volunteer Chris O'Hanlon tells the story of why he is committed to help end this harmful practice.

28 Too Many’s powerful new campaign highlights that female genital mutilation (FGM) doesn’t only happen in far away places. Each year three million girls are at risk of FGM and we all need to take action to end FGM everywhere.

A guest blog by 28 Too Many Trustee Karen Walkden highlighting what each of the main political parties standing in the UK General Election has put in their manifesto's regarding tacking FGM and VAWG.

Guest blog by Nia Dowd. Earlier this year Nia Dowd took on a personal endurance challenge to complete 12 hours non-stop pedalling on a spin bike to help end FGM. In this blog she tells her story and hopes to inspire more people to take action.

A blog by Ann-Marie Wilson. It has been a very busy start to 2015 for 28 Too Many’s Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson with two separate trips to Kenya and a week in the Middle East. Before taking a few days well deserved rest over the Easter weekend, she reflects on the progress in Kenya where FGM has been reduced from 38 to 28 per cent in 10 years, but still there is more to do.

Guest blog by Stephen Williams, a friend of Ann-Marie Wilson and supporter of 28 Too Many and our work to end this harmful practice. In his blog Stephen explains why he cares about this issue and believes other men need to stand against FGM.

A guest blog by 28 Too Many Youth Ambassador Noa Marson on the WOW Festival which took place in London 1st to 8th March.

As we approach International Women's Day 2015, 28 Too Many release new research on FGM in The Gambia where 3 out of every 4 girls undergo FGM. 

A blog by Esther Njenga. 28 Too Many's Africa Coordinator Esther Njenga shares her reflections on an amazing week in Laikipia Kenya, working alongside the Maasai Cricket Warriors and Cricket Without Boundaries to pioneer a new approach to tackling FGM.

28 Too Many is delighted to receive new funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government to develop new training for faith leaders and community workers so that they can take action against FGM.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Asha Chadeesingh on our recent evening at the London School of Economics (LSE) talking to students about our work to end FGM.

Guest blog by Sarajane Rodgers. A new blog for V-Day by 28 Too Many supporter Sarajane Rodgers highlighting the importance of the V-Day campaign to end violence against women and girls.

As we celebrate the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM 2015 we are pleased to share details of our exciting new project in Kenya. Working with partners the Maasai Cricket Warriors and Cricket Without Boundaries our project team will deliver a special programme which uses cricket as the vehicle to work with local communities, empower young people and deliver important health and anti-FGM education.

A blog by 28 Too Many Programmes Manager Caroline Overton reflecting on the outcome of the UK's first prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

Guest blog by Sarajane Rodgers. When you think of female genital mutilation (FGM), where does one picture such a thing taking place? Is it in some far off land? The United States, a country based on principles of freedom of the mind, body, and spirit, would be immune to something like FGM, right? In this blog 28 Too Many supporter Sarajane Rodgers explores the reality of FGM in the USA.

In recognition of her work researching and campaigning against female genital mutilation (FGM), 28 Too Many Founder and Executive Director Dr Ann-Marie Wilson has been awarded a British Citizen Award. Ann-Marie is one of 28 people chosen from hundreds of nominations to receive the new awards, celebrating the selfless and often vital work they do for others. Each of them was presented with a medal at a ceremony in Westminster on 29th January.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Nigeen Akram. Nigeen blogs about the brave women of Kurdistan battling to protect their homeland from extremist forces and also for women's rights and to end harmful practices like FGM. On a recent trip to Kurdistan Nigeen met FGM survivors and in this blogs she tells the story of one women who underwent the practice but has vowed to break the cycle and end FGM in her family to protect her daughters.

28 Too Many's new research, Country Profile: FGM in Liberia shows that approximately half of girls and women in Liberia undergo FGM. Despite a ban on the practice since September due to the Ebola outbreak, there are reports that some FGM is continuing. This new report details the situation relating to FGM in Liberia and makes recommendations on actions necessary to end the practice.

Guest blog by Asha Chadeesingh. A blog by Asha on the support services that are available to girls and women affected by FGM and why this remains a key issue for campaigners.

On Friday 5th December 2014, Sam Barlow will be walking home from work - a sixty mile commute by foot to help end FGM.

Blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Asha Chadeesingh. As we approach the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (25th Nov to 10th Dec), 28 Too Many volunteer Asha blogs to encourage her fellow students to get active and be part of the generation that will end female genital mutilation (FGM).

28 Too Many were pleased to participate in the NGO Forum in Geneva which preceded the first high-level Regional Review meeting for Beijing+20 and was organized by UNECE and UN Women on the 3^rd to 5^th November in Geneva. The conclusions of the regional reviews will feed into the global review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action at next year’s fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

Guest blog by Caroline Overton. As the UK’s Ministry of Justice publishes a raft of new measures to protect girls and women from FGM 28 Too Many Programmes Manager Caroline Overton asks, FGM: can’t you just pass a law against it?

Blog Action Day post by Nigeen Akram. A powerful blog by 28 Too Many volunteer and medical student Nigeen telling the story of a Kurdish FGM survivor she met during a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan this summer. We share this on Blog Action Day 2014 in the hope that it will be seen by many people and encourage support for the brave Kurdish women standing against FGM.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Asha Chadeesingh. A review of the recent Cruel Cut workshop in London, featuring anti-FGM campaigners, health, legal and other experts to provide life-saving and life-changing awareness and training of FGM

For the International Day of the Girl Child 2014, 28 Too Many and Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) are pleased to announce a ground breaking project in Kenya using sport to bring communities together, empower girls and encourage the abandonment of female genital mutilation (FGM)

As 28 Too Many's new report Country Profile: FGM in Mali shows the extent of FGM in Mali, researcher Gemma Locke highlights some of the challenges and shares her hopes for change.

28 Too Many's new research, Country Profile: FGM in Mali, confirms that FGM remains a major issue in Mali and that 91% of girls and women have experienced FGM. The report details the practice and explains the underlying social drivers which support the continuation of FGM.

Guest blog by Jade Botha. Jade Botha became aware of FGM while studying in the UK for masters degree in education studies. Inspired to focus on FGM in the UK for her dissertation, Jade explains what she learnt and why she supports the campaign to end FGM.

An update on some of our fantastic supporters who are taking action and have joined the global movement to end FGM.

Guest blog by Phoebe Waller on why new luxury lingerie label Flimsymoon has chosen to donate some of the proceeds from its Kickstarter fundraising campaign to help 28 Too Many's work to end FGM.

Blog by 28 Too Many Volunteer Shirelle Salem. The recent Girl Summit on female genital mutilation and child early forced marriage was an important step in the fight to end these harmful practices and looks to a better future but what about the girls at risk of FGM now? 28 Too Many volunteer Shirelle Salem blogs to raise awareness of the thousands of British girls at risk of FGM this summer.

Blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Shirelle Salem. 28 Too Many volunteer Shirelle blogs about the inspiring Girl Effect Live which took place in London on Sunday 20th July 2014. An exciting female-led day of music, art, poetry, comedy, expert discussions and workshops to celebrate the power of girls and young women.

Declarations signed by over 350 UK faith leaders were presented to the UK Government at the Girl Summit in London on 22^nd July 2014. The declarations make clear that female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage (FM) are not religious requirements and that no faith supports these harmful practices.

28 Too Many's Youth Delegate Ella Sivan blogs on the #YouthforChange conference which was held in London on Saturday 19th July and brought together young people from across the world who are passionate about girls' rights and ending FGM and CEFM.

The first Girl Summit is being held in London on 22nd July and aims to create a world where FGM and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) are no longer practised. 28 Too Many supports this ground breaking events and will be taking part in the Summit and a number of supporting events.

28 Too Many is supporting The Girl Summit 2014. Bringing together governments, experts and activists, this will be first international forum to look at FGM and child and forced marriage. Read more about the event and what it aims to achieve in our latest blog.

Charity 28 Too Many will ask leaders within the Church of England attending General Synod in York, on Saturday 12th July, to ensure that The Church strengthens its opposition to the harmful traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).

The IAC Executive Board has agreed 28Toomany as an affiliate member of the Inter-African Committee (IAC).

The IAC is an African regional umbrella body that has been working on policy programmes and actions to stop FGM in the African Region for the last 28 years. 

A new report on FGM is published today by the Home Affairs Committee of the House of Commons “Female genital mutilation: the case for a national action plan”. The Committee recommends the immediate implementation of a national action plan and specific steps to respond to the growing crisis on FGM in UK.

A blog on the Premier Lecture by Siobhan Crawford. 28 Too Many Trustee Siobhan Crawford attended the third annual Premier Lecture with the Right Honourable Lord (Paul) Boateng on Tuesday 10th June. Here is her account of an inspiring evening

Guest blog by Kabete Benard. Kabete Benard provides an insight into community development work in Pokot County in Kenya where FGM is still widely practised.

28 Too Many's new report, Country Profile: FGM in Sierra Leone, shines a light on the secretive practice of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone. It shows that change is happening and makes recommendations on what needs to be to done to accelerate the ending of this harmful practice.

On Saturday 17th May, a nine year old Sierra Leonean girl died from female genital mutilation (FGM) related complications. 

28 Too Many’s new report “Country Profile: FGM in Sierra Leone” shines a light on this secretive practice and shows that there has been a slight fall in the prevalence rate of FGM in Sierra Leone from 2008 to 2013 but the practice still affects approximately 89.6% of women (DHS, 2013). 

28 Too Many are pleased to be taking part in the global summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflist which is being held in London from 10th to 13th June 2014.

Guest blog by Esther Marshall. Esther Marshall, a physiotherapist and pilates instructor from East London, explains her motivation for taking part in the Run Hackney Half Marathon to raise money for 28 Too Many and help end FGM.

Guest blog by Kat Brealey. On Sunday 11th May, Kat and her husband Ben completed the Bristol 10K to raise money to help end FGM and change the lives of women and girls around the world. As well as helping to empower other women, Kat also found that preparing for and completing the run was a hugely empowering experience for her.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen. A blog on some of the women who inspire our work to end FGM and are making a difference to millions of women and girls worldwide.

Guest blog by Courtney Perlmutter. Human Rights and International Relations student Courtney Perlmutter reports on the REPLACE 2 Conference held in London on 11th April 2014, bringing together researchers, campaigners and government representations to tackle FGM.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many supporter Nigeen Akram. Student Nigeen Akram blogs about FGM in the UK in the first of a series of posts on the campaign to end FGM. She wants to raise awareness and encourage others to join the growing global movement against FGM.

Guest blog by Lydia Miller. Lydia Miller writes about her recent trip to Uganda and how she was able to use 28 Too Many's research to raise awareness of FGM as part of her workshops for teachers on child safeguarding.

Guest blog by Kat Brealey. 28 Too Many supporter Kat Brealey writes about why she and her husband Ben have signed up to run the Bristol 10k on 11th May to raise funds to help our work to end FGM. We are very grateful to them for doing this challenge and if you are able to please support them in this challenge.

Interview with Ann-Marie Wilson. Following her recent trip to share our research on FGM in four countries in East Africa, 28 Too Many Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson is interviewed by volunteer Alison Glennie.

Blog by Amy Hurn, 28 Too Many Research Project Manager. Amy Hurn writes about an emotional and informative day at the Metropolitan Police Project Azure Conference in London on 29th March 2014.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Daisy Marshall. Research volunteer Daisy Marshall wirtes about a recent event on FGM organised by Leeds Students for Women International Society.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many Volunteer Helen Reid. As the Crown Prosecution Service announces the first prosecutions for FGM in the UK 28 Too Many volunteer Helen Reid considers what a successful prosecution could mean to the campaign against the practice.

A blog by 28 Too Many Trustee Anya Stern. 28 Too Many Trustee Anya Stern took part in the Million Women Rise march in central London on International Women's Day 2014 and writes about her inspiring afternoon.

Guest blog by Ruth Samuels. 28 Too Many volunteer Ruth Samuels reflects on the support and encouragement from New Wine Women for our work to end FGM and how this is helping to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Hilary Campbell. 28 Too Many volunteer Hilary Campbell writes about One Billion Rising 2014 and the Rise for Justice rally which took place in Trafalgar Square in London on 14th February.

During February 28 Too Many Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson visits East Africa to meet anti-FGM activisits in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In this blog we find out what she hopes to achieve from this trip.

28 Too Many publishes a new briefing paper on the impact of emergency situations on FGM which looks at this complex issue and identifies some of the key considerations that need to be taken into account as governments and international aid organisations prepare responses to emergencies.

Oxford University Student Division of Lawyers Without Borders (OxLWOB) and anti-FGM charity 28 Too Many announce a new research collaboration on female genital mutilation (FGM).

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Helen Reid. Helen Reid writes about why we need compulsory sex and relationship education (SRE) for all children. There is growing evidence that SRE not only provides the knowledge necessary to build safe and healthy relationships but it also plays a vital role in reducing sexual violence and can help tackle harmful practices like FGM.

A new report on female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK offers new data and makes serious claims about a dramatic increase in the number of women and girls in the UK affected by this harmful practice. Julie Bindel, the report’s author, estimates that as many as 170,000 women living in the UK may have undergone FGM and 65,000 girls under the age of 13 are at risk.

Did you know the on that day when the real men stand up and say no to FGM it will be on that day when we will say a final RIP to Female Genital Mutilation? In a guest blog for 28 Too Many, Geoffrey Otieno from Kenya talks about the role of men in FGM and why they should take action to end this harmful practice.

As we leave 2013 and head into 2014 full of excitement and enthusiasm for the challenges ahead, Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson takes a look back at 28 Too Many's work over the last few months and the many achievements in the campaign to end FGM.

Guest blog by a 28 Too Many researcher. During August and September 2013 Gosbert Lwentaro, a researcher based in Dar es Salaam undertook research on FGM in Tanzania for 28 Too Many. His research included meetings and community group discussions in Arusha and Moshi and in this blog he shares some of the findings which show how FGM is changing in Tanzania.

28 Too Many is pleased to confirm the appointment of two new trustees to its Board of Directors.

Guest blog by Diya Mukarji. An interesting and thoughtful blog by Diya Mukarji, a post-colonial feminist and anti-FGM campaigner. In this piece Diya explores how we can discuss a difficult topic like FGM in a culturally sensitive and progressive way which does not hinder efforts to end the practice.

Blog by Louise Robertson. As we celebrate Human Rights Day 2013, we share a story of a brave woman in Tanzania urging others to abandon the harmful traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).

It is estimated that 7.9 million women and girls in Tanzania have undergone FGM (UNICEF, 2013).  New research for 28 Too Many’s report “Country Profile: FGM in Tanzania” shows that there has been good progress against FGM in some areas of Tanzania but there are still very strong challenges to eradicating FGM.

Guest blog by volunteer Alison Glennie. On International Volunteers Day 2013, 28 Too Many communications volunteer Alison Glennie explains why volunteering is important and how it changes the lives of the volunteers as well the people they help.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen. Vivien writes about The Cruel Cut. A new documentary about FGM in the UK shown on Channel 4 television on the 6th November 2013. The film follows Leyla Hussein, an FGM survivor who now campaigns to end the practice, support survivors and protect other girls from having to face the often devastating consequences of FGM.

Guest blog by Winnie Cheung. 28 Too Many volunteer Winnie Cheung discusses the campaign against FGM in the UK and what impact the attitude that this is a "women's issue" has on progress to end the practice.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Ruth Samuels. Inspired by a recent event led by UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo, and guest speaker Marai Larasi from EVAW and Imkaan, 28 Too many volunteer Ruth Samuels explores why governments should be taking more action against gender based violence.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen. Vivien Cohen reviews the film "I will never be cut" by The Guardian Global Development, which looks at FGM in Kenya and highlights how girls and campaigners are trying to change attitudes and end this cruel practice.

23.8 million women in Ethiopia have had female genital mutilation (FGM) which makes it the second most affected country in Africa for FGM. However despite the fact that FGM is widespread and is practised in the majority of regions and ethnics groups, research by 28 Too Many finds that attitudes are changing in Ethiopia and progress is being made to reduce and eventually eradicate this harmful practice.

Blog by 28 Too Many research volunteer Lisa Glass. The launch of the ‘Look Again’ photo exhibition took place on Thursday 24 October at the Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London. The exhibition was organised by Restored, an international Christian alliance working to transform relationships and end violence against women. 28 Too Many Executive Director, Ann-Marie Wilson and research volunteers, Lisa and Ruth, were all delighted to attend the launch and shares ideas and stories with others campaigning to end violence against women and girls.

Guest blog by Lilli Loveday. Lilli Loveday takes a look at the shocking levels of violence against women and girls in India after attending a UN Women talk and hearing the work of the ICS programme in India which provides volunteer opportunities for young people on development projects.

Guest blog by Marianna Ryan. A blog by 28 Too Many supporter Marianna Ryan for Blog Action Day 2013. In this blog Marianna discusses the challenges faced by campaigners in communicating and engaging audiences whilst staying true to their values and respecting the causes they represent. This is a particularly difficult for anti-FGM and other campaigners who want to promote respect for human rights and protect the dignity of those affected by violations of their rights whilst dealing with very sensitive issues which can easily lead to shocking messages.

A landmark resolution opposing FGM passed at the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) 27th Triennial Conference

Guest blog by Vivien Cohen. A new blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen looking at FGM and asylum makes a powerful case for why those seeking protection from FGM should be offered safety.

Guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Alison Glennie. Alison Glennie writes on the conclusions from 28 Too Many's first 2 country profile reports and the lessons that we can learn from experiences in Kenya and Uganda for programmes to end FGM across Africa.

A blog by Dr Sophia Webster as she visits the maternity ward in a hospital in Burkina Faso during her epic Flight for Every Mother journey to promote maternal health across Africa. Flying a plane, negotiating border crossings, delivering babies and saving lives are all in day's work for this inspirational doctor!

As we all return from our summer holidays, our latest blog is a round up of the last four months at 28 Too Many from Executive Director Ann-Marie Wilson.

Blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Alison Glennie. Following a recent talk on FGM at a Galactic Orchids meeting, 28 Too Many communications volunteers interviews Ann-Marie Wilson about the talk and asks some of the challenging questions about FGM.

An update from the House of Lords on the UK Home Office's pilot scheme of a Statement Opposing Female Genital Mutilation leaflet following a written question from Baroness Cox

A blog by 28 Too Many Operations Co-ordinator Louise Robertson on Flight for Every Mother - an exciting and challenging journey across Africa by Obstetrician Dr Sophia Wesbter. Flying a small plane, Sophia will be visiting 25 African countries delivering medical supplies and training to improve maternal health and to tackle issues like FGM, early marriage and lack of basic medical support which can save thousands of lives each year.

Blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen. Our latest guest blog by 28 Too Many volunteer Vivien Cohen is an interview with Ann-Marie Wilson on 28 Too Many's achievements over the last year and what is coming up next.

Guest blog by Amanda Epe. Amanda Epe, one of 28 Too Many's Health Education Volunteers, reflecting on the role of midwives and other professionals and how they can help safeguard girls from FGM.

Guest blog by a 28 Too Many volunteer. A new blog by one of our team of volunteer campaigners on the summer "cutting season", when the risk of FGM dramatically rises for young girls during the long schools holidays.

Blog by Johanna Waritay, 28 Too Many Research Coordinator. A blog by Johanna Waritay about our new country profile on FGM in Uganda. Although the overall rate of FGM is low in Uganda the practice is still deeply entrenched in some areas and there are still many challenges to overcome before FGM is eradicated in Uganda.

A new report on FGM in Uganda by 28 Too Many published on Monday 15th July finds that Uganda has a low rate of FGM compared to many African countries but faces a tough battle to eradicate the practice.

A guest blog by Tallulah Staple, a student in London, about how she was inspired to research FGM and raise awareness via a podcast.

Guest blog by Jess Frampton, member of the London Committee for the UK National Committee for UN Women about how an award-winning film and one of the country’s top experts shed light on the hidden world of FGM.

A guest blog by Amanda Epe Health 28 Too Many Volunteer, trainer/coach and writer/activist against FGM. A personal account of how a father's story about FGM sowed a seed for one women to become a campaigner against this harmful practice.

28 Too Many welcome the new telephone helpline to protect girls in the UK from female genital mutilation (FGM) which was launched on Monday 24th June by the NSPCC. The free 24 hour telephone line provides advice, information and support for anyone concerned that a child's welfare is at risk because of FGM.

Blog by 28 Too Many researcher Kelly Denise. I have had the privilege of working full time with 28 Too Many for about a year and it has been amazing. The people, the vision and the work have been inspiring. Being a part of a young organisation from the beginning has been an incredible experience as we navigate through the vision in real life and learn from our mistakes as well as seek advice from those who have been working in this field before us.

A guest blog by Helen Harwood. A review of "The Day I Will Never Forget", a powerful documentary by acclaimed film maker Kim Longinotto follows a number of women in Kenya around the theme of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Blog by Katherine Allen, Research Intern and co-author of FGM in Kenya. 28 Too Many has released its first country profile report on FGM in Kenya. This information resource is freely available on our website and is intended to provide consolidated and objective information on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kenya, and on national efforts to eradicate the practice.

28 Too Many’s new report on FGM in Kenya is featured in The Lancet in their weekly news podcast with an interview with our founder and Executive Director, Ann-Marie Wilson. As well as outlining our research methodology, Ann-Marie confirms the key findings from the report including a welcomed 10% reduction in FGM prevalence across Kenya over the last 10 years.

Blog by Louise Robertson. Nelson Mandela said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. I was reminded of this quote by the striking fact that only 19% of Kenya girls who have secondary level education undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) compared to an alarming 54% of girls who do not get a school education.

Guest blog by Laura McKeever, studying Medical Science and Humanities at Swansea University. In 2012 significant advances were made in the battle against FGM as the United Nations prepared the first-ever draft resolution against the practice. In addition to this, some nations decided to abandon the practice - most notably Somalia included a ban on FGM in its new constitution. While progress has been made, push back has arrived.

Progress is being made in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kenya, confirms a new report by charity 28 Too Many which shows a significant drop in prevalence over the last ten years.

As 28 Too Many celebrates the completion of its first year as an independent charity we are delighted to launch our new website. As well as updates on our campaigning and advocacy work to end female genital mutilation (FGM) we are excited to be able to share our research and country profiles in the FGM Resources section.

Guest blog by Meti Tadesse, 28 Too Many Health Volunteer. In our world today, individuals’ right to participate in their culture and freedom of religion is protected by law. What appears to be difficult to enshrine by law, however, is the right for an individual girl to ‘opt out of certain cultural practices’ which are now at best considered as ‘challenging’ and have clearly been identified as ‘harmful’ to the individual’s development and psychosocial wellbeing.

Stories from the field

As we settle into 2013, we review the fast progress we have made in 2012!  At our second Board meeting in December, we celebrated a major IT upgrade, enabled by a donation, and the generous time of an IT Director who gave his time for free – our first CSR donation! 

Guest blog by Christine Ashley, Volunteer Counsellor, Childline. I cannot believe that I had not realised the full extent of FGM until the 28th January 2013! Being a Volunteer Counsellor for Childline we are very privileged to be allowed to attend different talks/workshops and FGM was the topic of one of the many talks I attended. Ann-Marie Wilson, Director of 28 Too Many

Released 7th March

Finding out what works to bring to an end the harmful practice of female genital mutilation.

Guest Blog Lilli Loveday, 28 Too Many Research Volunteer. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a major concern in the UK, with an estimated 30,000 girls under the age of 15 at risk of undergoing the practice (Forward, 2007). Despite legislation illegalising both the practice of FGM on UK nationals or permanent residents whilst overseas and the practice on any individual (irrespective of their nationality

Guest Blog by Sara Abdul Rahim, Masters student. The stark reality is, that in many parts of the world today women are denied access to pivotal rights for the mere fact of being female. Thereby women settle into second class status in their own homelands and, generations of young girls are raised as witnesses to the burden of their gender. It’s a cyclical

Guest blog by Mahdieh Madannezhad, student at the Shahid Beheshti University, Iran. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is defined by World Health Organisation (WHO) as all procedures that intentionally alter and ncause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is performed on young females with the purpose of protecting their virginity until marriage. FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of human rights of girls

Blog by Louise Robertson. On 14th February the 28 Too Many team took to the streets of London to participate in a number of One Billion Rising in the UK (OBRUK) events taking place across thecapital. Rather than provide an account of the day which has already been well documented in many blogs, on FaceBook/Twitter and in some brilliant

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson, 28 Too Many Executive Director. One aspect I find exciting and challenging about my journey into the world of aid is its love of jargon!  I guess business and psychology, my previous careers, also had their fill of three letter acronyms, but the aid world seems to love them even more.  My latest preoccupation is with two: taking FGM (female

Guest Blog by Marianna Ryan, 28 Too Many Social Media Volunteer. It is sobering that over 20,000 young girls and women are at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) each year in the UK- a developed nation with a commitment to human rights, as well as a comprehensive child protection framework. More worrying is that this statistic is, at best, an educated estimate, since FGM often

Blog by 28 Too Many's Research Coordinator.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice that involves the cutting or removal of the external genitals. It is typically found in traditional group or community cultures with patriarchal social structures. The reasons for the practice are complex and the origins are often lost in the mists of time. What is clear, however, is that FGM is a manifestation of deeply entrenched gender inequality, a fact recognised by the WHO.

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson, Executive Director. We had a successful media campaign last week with blogs in the Huff Post  and on Tearfund’s website. We also appeared on USB radio on 6th February and Ben TV on 7th February.  We look forward to another fruitful year of campaigning as we launch our next campaign on 13th February.  Watch this space!

Blog by Louise Robertson. Louise’s Blog on V Day was recently published on One Billion Rising.  See it here

Guest Blog by Abigal Muchecheti, Author and Campaigner Against FGM. I am writing this article for all the girls around the world who have been genitally mutilated. Culturalists will argue that this subject should be left untouched as it projects and demeans a people’s culture. To such people I have this to say – FGM is a cruel, inhuman practice that not only belittles women

Guest blog by Wafa Farah, Journalist student at Hull Art & Design School. The World Health Organisation reports about 140 million girls and women are currently living with the consequence of female genital mutilation (FGM). The practice of FGM  is over a 2000 year old cultural tradition, which requires the cutting or the removal of the external genitals. FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy

Guest blog by Vivien Cohen, 28 Too Many Volunteer. In the fight for global female equality, it often seems that women have been doomed from the start. Blamed for original sin, we were responsible for all the ills in the world. In most religions in fact, women do not come across particularly favourably and, considering that for millennia it is organised religion which has

2012 has been a busy and productive year with regard to the movement towards ending FGM. The UN annual report released on 6th of February demonstrated that the cultural trend toward FGM is in fact decreasing.The report stated that since 2011 around 2,000 communities in Africa have abandoned FGM, while Kenya (through the passing of

Blog from our Research Co-ordinator, recently back from Tanzania. Following from our previous blog about FGM in Tanzania, we continue with a blog from Singida and Dodoma in Central Tanzania by our Research Co-ordinator, who recently undertook a research project in the country for Tearfund. In Central Tanzania, we found a very different picture to Mara Region in North West Tanzania (see last blog

Guest blog from Laura McKeever, 28 Too Many Volunteer. From the International Day of Violence Against Women on November 25th, to International Human Rights Day on December 10th, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence takes place. Since 1991, over 4,100 organisations have taken part in the campaign to end violence against women, placing emphasis on ending violence everywhere, including the home

Guest blog by Farhanah Mamoojee. Girls like me are pretty lucky. We never had to worry about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In fact, the concept is perhaps so alien to us that we have never really had to even think about it. But just because we are lucky enough to have never had to think about it, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about it.

Blog by Ann-Marie Wilson. We are delighted to share our blog on the Huffington Post to celebrate the 16 Days of Activism beginning with the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) and ending with The Human Rights Day (10th December).  Follow our daily posts on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with our activities and news.  

Guest blog by Helen Marshall, Tareto Maa. I don’t remember exactly when I first became concerned about the subject of FGM but it was one of those moments when something so hard hits you, you can’t get it out of your mind. Learning about a girl being cut and left in pain, sometimes to bleed and die was something so shocking to

Blog by Ann-Marie, Executive Director. An Olympic Summer! During a hot sunny week of camping at a Conference in Somerset, with main morning and evening talks attracting over 5000 attendees, I spent time in seminars on pioneering, advocacy, leadership & Tearfund’s work.  These were interspersed with a few art workshops and a healthy dose of communal BBQs!  A New Wine

Guest blog from Tanzania by our Research Co-Ordinator. We are shortly approaching the December cutting season in Tanzania.  Our Research Co-Ordinator has just returned from Tanzania, undertaking some research on behalf of Tearfund, and these are her initial findings: “We visited the remote Rorya District in the Mara region in North West Tanzania, near the shores of Lake Victoria. Although within the country

Guest blog by Vivien Cohen, 28 Too Many Volunteer. There are many euphemisms in the English language. People don’t die, they ‘pass away’. My grandma never went to the toilet; she ‘went to spend a penny’. Our society has a long and rich history of euphemising when we find a topic unseemly, reprehensible, embarrassing or difficult to confront.  It seems to me then that

Guest Blog from Lisa Glass, Member of South London Fawcett Group. I recently went to a South London Fawcett Group meeting, where Ann-Marie Wilson, Founder/Director of 28 Too Many spoke about the work of her charity. With a background in corporate HR, she went in 2005 to West Darfur to do some aid work, where she first came across the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM),

Blog by Kelly Denise, Uganda In-Country Researcher. When Ann-Marie first started looking at getting involved in anti-FGM work in 2005, she bought a book edited by Comfort Momoh ‘Female Genital Mutilation’.  There it stated FGM inUganda at 5% (1995/6).  We are pleased to report in 2012, it has fallen to 1% (UNFPA).  In this blog, Kelly shares her experience in Uganda: My

Charlotte is a recent graduate from UCL in French and Philosophy. Her studies have had a particular focus on current ethics debates in health in UK and global health. Studying French along side this she became interested in the culture of Francophone Africa which makes up a large part of North and West Africa. FGM

From the Danny Boyle Olympics Opening Ceremony to the 100th medal of the Paralympics; with numerous new world records to the spirit of the London 2012 Games Maker.  Here we share with you a few stories from our own 28 Too Many Team who took an ‘alternate’ volunteering holiday to make this a Games to

Guest blog by Olivia Jackson, currently completing her MA. I am constantly asking ‘why does FGM happen?’.  The answers are as diverse as the practice, which occurs in 28 countries in Africa, across some of India/Pakistan; Malaysia/Indonesia, South Africa and in all countries where FGM practising communities migrate includingUSA,Canada, Europe and theUK.   As with this article’s title, it is sometimes believed to be that

I recently have returned to Uganda following an 8 day trip to theUK to visit 28 Too Many. The purpose of my time there was to build relationships with the staff and volunteers as well as get a deeper idea of the vision of the charity to help me develop my role with them. Intermixed

See Ann-Marie’s latest blog at the Huffington Post on the summer ‘cutting’ season

We  thought you might like to know that Ann-Marie’s paper entitled ‘Can lessons be learnt from eradicating footbinding in China and applied to abandoning female genital mutilation in Somalia? A critical evaluation of the possibilities offered for developing strategies to expand current promising practice’ has been published by the Journal of Gender Studies.  It is

Fatima greeted me as I entered the clinic. It was another dusty 40°C day. Even though I had been inWest Darfur and heard details of many atrocities there, I was chilled to the bone as I listened to her story. At ten years old she was raped by the Janjiweed, the armed horseback militia.

I grew up hearing stories from my grandmother and next door neighbour, Aunty Bunny, who taught me many of the key lessons in life – about values and what was important in life; priorities and key decisions; love and gender roles. My father also make up amazing multi-part stories to entertain me on weekend mornings whilst my mother had a lie in

I recently had the opportunity to speak on the work of 28 Too Many in helping end FGM across Africa, as a representative at the We Will Speak Out (WWSO) consortium in Geneva.  This privilege came as part of the support given by the Inspired Individual Scheme run by Tearfund, that I was successfully nominated

Blog by our In-Country Researcher. FGM is a topical issue in Liberia at the moment. The government was recently forced to take a public position on the matter, with Liberian officials declaring they want to stop FGM. This followed the publication by a journalist of an article exposing FGM which made her the target of threats, sparking international controversy

The empowerment of women & girls has risen up the development agenda this decade, backed by powerful financial institutions with CSR policies; the philanthropic departments of major organisations (Vodafone and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations) and influential donors (USAID & DfID). What hope have we that this overlooked group will fulfil its potential? On the

This month I attended Mike Leigh’s play ‘Grief’ – where a 1950’s war widow ‘survives’ through smoking and alcohol; her brother becomes depressed upon ‘retirement’ after 45 years of work and the 16 year old daughter commits suicide upon failing her exams with no hope for the future

As many of us recover from over spending or over indulgence, spare a thought for young women influenced by the porn industry’s influence on ‘male’ desires of beauty, to seek vaginal cosmetic surgery. Labiaplasty is on the increase, rising by 70% from 2007-8 on the NHS, as confirmed by conversations with a couple of gynaecologists I recently met at a conference. The under 18 girls had researched well their mental health ‘trauma’ at having slightly unequal labia, so presented as needing surgery. Despite the fact we all have different feet, hands and breasts, there is an increase in the need for portrayed perfection, as girls are increasingly under pressure to shave their pubic areas – and so notice or are told their two labia are different sizes. It is ironic that in some of the 28 African countries that still practice FGM, labia are pulled to elongate – which is classed as Type IV

‘We’re perpetrators. We allowed this to happen’, said a Bishop form the Democratic Republic of Congo at the launch of the Silent No More Report (WB1). This response recognised The Church, by its silence, has been complicit in allowing sexual violence to go unaddressed

As I travel to Kenya, my head is full of images and stories of girls undergoing FGM. How can meetings I’ve had recently with MPs and NGOs in London, and plan to hold in Nairobi, end this practice

This is what I am often asked as I take a stance against FGM, a practice that’s been around for 2000 years. Yet when you read the poem at the end of this - produced with ‘Fouzia’s’ permission, a young woman admitted to hospital for FGM complications – how can one not act?

‘When I grow up I want to be…’. How often are these eight mortal words spoken from the mouths of babes? My early aspirations included being a surgeon(!), a physio and then a teacher…so how did I become a banker at age 16?! So what do child brides aspire to

Accordingly to Mukami McCrum, FGM is a “violation so intrusive and personal that many people adopt a culture of silence as it is humiliating and embarrassing to talk about”. Due to migration, FGM is not restricted to African geographical or political boundaries. Find out about its presence in the UK below

What can a Senegalese urban soul and hip-hop star do to help end FGM? Or groups of Women quilting or embroiding images of female genitalia do to raise awareness of FGM? See how art can change hearts and minds when articles and headlines no longer impact us in our over trauma/stimulated world…

What lies beneath a beautiful country? What are your thoughts on Kenya? A wildlife safari? Idyllic beaches? Smiles and great coffee? Having been there ten times since 2001, I’ve had the privilege to peek below the surface. Read on if you’re open to widen your views!

This month I have been busy promoting the cause! I have contributed to a fistula best practice guide; an article on FGM in Mali and Djibouti; an online news journal (as the FGM Co-ordinator leaves government) and two radio broadcasts – one for Premier Radio and the other for Talking Books for the Blind. See

How do you answer these questions: Can FGM end in a generation – after 1000 years of embedded practice? What does it take to campaign for 10 years to change a traditional practice? Can lessons in Ethiopia be transferred elsewhere? Can we in the West contribute to change in Africa? Read on…!

I recently visited the Museum of London with a friend, and amongst other things followed London’s history from Saxon villages to 2010 metropolis! Somewhere on that eclectic journey, I learnt more about the Suffragette movement and just what those women sacrificed to make a difference. In celebration of 100 years of International Women’s Day, I

With over 130 commemorative days, International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM (6th February) falls between Family Literacy and Valentine’s Day! FGM has been illegal since the FGM Act 2003, yet it has done little to change the reality for 24,000 UK girls under 15 who are at risk. We have seen laws are not enough. So what next

As we venture into 2011, with our personal and global hopes of a peaceful referendum in Sudan; the drying up of tidal waters in Australia; eradicating FGM or the end of the worst UK winter for 100 years, I reflect on a hope set for 2010 ‘Make Peace Happen’ – set by the African Union for last year. Does setting a vision or goal make a difference? Did anything change? Can we be hopeful for

Having worked in five and visited three other countries last year, I was aware of the need for quick adjustment to cultural fit! I recently attended People in Aid Forum/AGM. Plan International, working in the Philippines Floods seeks five qualities in their disaster workers: inspiring/having confidence; agility; good communication and being results-driven. How can we all keep our skills up to date in changing times

One of my recent roles at FORWARD has been to help promote a film screening of Moolaade, a film set in Burkina Faso where four girls fled to escape FGM. Ousmane Sembene’s powerful film challenges gender inequality, domestic violence, forced marriage and FGM. So how do we not become sensitised to these terrible ordeals

I recently had a meeting at FORWARD with UNIFEM, the UN's women's issues department. In the UK, they spend time leading school assemblies and education awareness days to help combat FGM in the UK. With a month of internatinal travel myself, I consdered how can lobbying internatinoally raise awareness of key issues?

When I was invited to view the Methodist Church's collection of modern Christian Art - billed as the 'greatest collection outside the Vatican' - I could hardly refuse! In the same month, I went to a packed evening of digital art and photography - 'Woman - Who's Canvas?' - in Brick Lane hosted by FORWARD. These got me thinking about how art and theatre can change minds on issues such as diversity, beauty and poverty.