Page 3 Profile: Fahma Mohamed, activist

Fahma Mohamed, activist (Dave Benett)

An inspiration to all?

A teenage activist committed to raising awareness of the practise of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been honoured at the Good Housekeeping Women of the Year Awards. Fahma Mohamed, 17, from Bristol, was announced as the winner of the outstanding young campaigner of the year award yesterday afternoon. She received the accolade in recognition of her “passion, drive and overwhelming determination” to prevent FGM and protect girls across the UK.

How long has she been campaigning?

When she was 14, the schoolgirl began volunteering with Integrate Bristol, which facilitates youth-led work around FGM and campaigns against all forms of inequality and gender-based violence. She became a trustee of the charity aged 16 and in February this year she launched a petition calling on Michael Gove, the former Secretary for Education, to write to all schools in England and Wales reminding them of their duty to safeguard girls from FGM.

Did she succeed in her mission?

Within three weeks the petition had attracted nearly 250,000 signatures and gained the public support of the recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who campaigns for girls’ education, and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, who said he had been inspired after meeting the young activist. Yielding to intense pressure, Mr Gove agreed to meet with Ms Mohamed and pledged to write to schools about the practice. The World Health Organisation describes FGM as any procedure that injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. There are no health benefits and it is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Surely such a barbaric practice is outlawed?

FGM is illegal in the UK, but campaigners including Ms Mohamed have warned that the practice still continues and current laws do not adequately ensure the protection of girls from practising cultures. Lindsay Nicholson, editorial director of Good Housekeeping, paid tribute to Ms Mohamed yesterday, stating she was “delighted” to honour her with the award. She added that Ms Mohamed had proved “that you don’t need access, influence or a large staff to effect real change – just passion, drive and overwhelming determination”.

Was Ms Mohamed happy to have her work recognised?

Speaking at the awards ceremony, which was held in a London hotel and introduced by the actress Lindsay Lohan, Ms Mohamed said: “There are so many women in the UK campaigning for what they believe in and it still hasn’t sunk in that the judges chose to give me this award.” She added: I’m excited to be named as one of the women of the year… I feel it’s acknowledging the importance of eradicating FGM and protecting the rights of girls all over the world.”