FGM/CEFM - Time to make a stand

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Child, and Early, Forced Marriage (CEFM)

Last time I wrote on this I received an email asking whether it was, 'Right and fitting for a man of the cloth to be talking about such things?'

Now I can understand that there are some sensitivities regarding this issue but the final shot in their mail hit me like a brick wrapped in a page of the Bible: 'Especially when it has nothing directly to do with the place you are and our own country!'

Nothing to do with our own country?
Estimates suggest that some 170,000 women and girls living in England and Wales have undergone FGM.

Take a look at the numbers and stop and think for a moment of the number of women who are affected by this act and then tell me that we can ignore it because the UK isn't on it! The numbers alone (and of course the girls taken 'back home' to experience first hand FGM) make this something that needs to acted against - and it's an education not boots on the ground situation so it's totally clean.

The second issue, CEFM, is equally awful and wrong and when we consider the reality of it - that every two seconds a girl under the age of 18 will find herself married (that's 4 whilst you've read this sentence)!

Now we are not thinking of young women how have fallen in love and run away to Gretna Green, there's nothing much to do with the idea of 'love. In fact mutual consent doesn't come into it at all for this is, generally, about women:

• who are sold because the family can't afford to feed all the children and so the, low or non-earning, girls are given (or sold) into marriage. 

• who, being worth less than their male counterparts are treated as objects and regarded with a lower status and CEFM only confirms and fuels this wrong attitude. 

• who are subjected to something that is contrary to the Universal declaration of Human Rights in that:

 To quote the Universal Declaration of Human Right (1948):

'Marriage should be ‘entered only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses’. 

If it isn't it's wrong

Please stop and think about these two issues - real issues of equality and concern - that affect this nation of ours and many who reside in it - and far too many worldwide (one is one too many!).

pax

Girl Summit - Looking to end oppression of girls and women

Tuesday 22nd July

The UK hosts the first Girl Summit, aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation. UNICEF will co-host the event.

Girls and women have the right to live free from violence and discrimination and achieve their potential, but some are being prevented from doing so by harmful practices such as FGM and CEFM, which are illegal in the UK.

The good news is that things are changing. In the heart of communities and families in the UK and across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, more and more people are saying no to these practices. Our role is to get behind, support and accelerate their efforts to end them.

This creative, positive and engaging event will bring together women, girls and community leaders from the UK and overseas, alongside governments, international organisations and the private sector to agree on action to end FGM and CEFM within a generation.

The Home Secretary Theresa May and Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening will host the event, alongside heads of state, practitioners, survivors, charities and community groups.

The summit will aim to secure new commitments from the private sector, faith leaders, other civil society organisations and governments.

The summit will also share success stories and spread good practice in tackling these issues. It will hear from girls and women who have lived through the ordeal of FGM or CEFM, and from many inspiring individuals from affected communities who are now driving through changes so that other girls and women can enjoy greater opportunities in the future.

There are SIX WAYS that you can get involved:

Visit Girl Summit -  sign the pledge and take a stand against FGM and CEFM today and start ridding the world of violence and discrimination against women across the world (for it's not, as one woman said today,  'Just the undeveloped world.'  this applies to!

:-)