End Violence Against Women Conference

16 Days of Activism

Amanda Epe speaker
Stop The Violence Conference NCC

Keeping the conversation going days after the 16 days of activism ending on Human Rights Day December 10th is vitally important in society to end the violence against women. Commencing on End the Violence toward women and girls day 25th November the conversations focus on women's safety against sexual and domestic violence globally. On a local level in a Newman School in West London, a panel of women spoke on issues to school girls at the annual Stop the Violence conference.

Fly Girls at The Vitality Big Half London Marathon

Fly Girls Weather the Storm

BBC Clip on The Big Half Vitality Run

Two weeks ago on Sunday 10th March a few of our team were anxious as for most it was their first ever half marathon. Fly Girls Running Community are a beginners running group that meets on Sunday mornings for a run around Wembley Stadium, ten signed up to do the 13.5mile run as a group and others separately for alternative distance runs scheduled for the day. The motivation for our team to do this was the knowledge that your peers were with you on the route, regardless of the distance you were from each other during the race. Having entered the 5km and 10km races locally and London wide the next progressive step was to try this race out, but by no means was anyone under pressure to enter.

International Women Day 2015

Encouraging Fly Girls to Make it Happen

Amanda Epe delivering school assembly

I was delighted to lead the assembly for International Women's Day at Ricards Lodge School to approximately 500 girls this week. Invited and introduced by the Assistant Head Teacher Mrs Sawyerr who leads the campaigns in the assemblies, I began by asking the girls if they were ready to fly and if they believe they can fly. The key point was to deliver messages of self-worth and determination.

FGM Education and Campaign Work

FGM Prevention and Prosecution

U.K Stamping Out FGM in the first prosecution

For 29 years Female Genital Mutilation FGM has been outlawed in Britain, and today marks the announcement of the first case of prosecutions to perpetrators of FGM crime; the charge signals the seriousness and should hinder and prevent anyone wishing to support FGM.

Guardian ANTI FGM Campaign

http://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2014/feb/26/guardian-fgm-petition-campaign-video

Warsan Shire's poem about FGM

http://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2014/feb/14/girls-warsan-shire-fgm-video?INTCMP=

The Cry, The Call of Dr Phoebe Abe and Leyla Hussein

End FGM not Female Fertility

Dr Phoebe Abe

This week the nation focuses on National Infertility, in Philappa Roxby’s (BBC health reporter) recent article infertility is regarded as a taboo subject for women. In a talk last Saturday by Dr Phoebe Abe a GP who also campaigns internationally against FGM, she talks poignantly on the unnecessary health conditions and major consequences of serious illness from the impact of FGM, such as Kidney failure. In Dr Abe’s work she informs her peers, surgeons in the medical profession as to the seriousness of FGM, many of whom are unaware of stitched women who are in labour and then proceed to Cesarean section. Outside of her surgery hours she passionately holds grassroots meetings with women to discuss the harm, the legal implications on those found guilty of the practice as well as political activism and lobbying.  

United we stand

One world and one race is the binding factor to tie us together in one love, sharing and supporting each other in this life. Opposing views and values are divisive yet inevitable and healthy for democracy and freedom, however when we are working towards the same or similar goals there is a powerful force and greater impact when all participants pull together and work cohesively.

BBC Casualty

Unsilenced

For the first time ever the BBC drama Casualty tackled the issue of FGM to engage a wider audience in the U.K, to bring about awareness of the act and from a silencing-secrecy in communities that practice it to the public concern. The script emphasised the importance of safeguarding responsibilities of professionals who may come in face to case contact with affected girls, i.e. the surgeons at hospital; the hidden crime that should be reported to police in cases of suspecting. From the posts on BBC Casualty facebook page it is evident that this episode has been an eye opener for a lot of the British public, citizens were shocked to hear that this practice is going on in the U.K. Two commentators mentioned child abuse in a country of law and order. The story dealt with the physiology of FGM in childbirth complications as well as vulnerable children at risk of child abuse.

Signposting 2

Specialist Clinical Services for FGM, provided by NHS:

Safeguarding Children

Consultation Committee in view to incorporate FGM training in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Inset days.

Responsible department: Department for Education

Every child matters and it is vital that all teachers nationwide should be aware of any harmful practices and danger children face regardless of their culture.
The primary national curriculum for PSHE and Citizenship four elements, one stating developing a healthy, safer lifestyle for children.
With 30,000 girls at risk of being tortured the time is now to improve the skills and confidence of SRE teachers, through their ITT and regularly on INSET.
The time is now to review the curriculum and add this topic starting from year six. Please sign the petitions below:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/47004

Signposting

Advocacy Services and Support