#116 Hibo Wardere: One Woman's Fight Against FGM

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Hibo Wardere

As a six-year-old child in Somalia, Hibo Wardere was subject to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia. FGM is a violation of a girl’s human rights that enforces sex inequality and it is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone the practice.

While the FGM is concentrated in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, FGM isn't just a problem overseas: the issue is a global one. In the UK performing FGM has been illegal since 1985, and in 2003 (2005 in Scotland) it became an offence to arrange FGM outside the country for British citizens or residents. The prevalence of FGM in England and Wale is estimated to be around 137,000 women and girls.

Hibo introduces her memoir detailing her life in Somalia and the UK and sheds light on this practice, that's still being carried out in the 21st century.

The Feminist Book Club is part of the FiLiA Legacy Project.

As part of this project we were able to launch a book group for Women in Portsmouth (the city where FiLiA2021 will be taking place). We were delighted to be able to gift a number of Hibo's books to local Women and to host our first webinar where we asked Hibo questions and she read from her book. A lively discussion, with a few technical hitches - we want to thank Suzi, our FiLiA editor who managed to craft a podcast out of the webinar so that we can share it with you.