Meet the young campaigner of the year fighting to prevent FGM indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxCelebrities
Meet the young campaigner of the year fighting to prevent FGM
Katie GrantOct 14, 2014 An inspiration to all? A teenage activist committed to raising awareness of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been honoured at the Good Housekeeping Women of the Year Awards. Fahma Mohamed, 17, from Bristol, won Outstanding Young Campaigner of the Year 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, she 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 Education Secretary, to write to all schools in England and Wales reminding them of their duty to safeguard girls from FGM. Did she succeed? 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 and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who said he had been inspired after meeting the young activist. Surely such a barbaric practice as FGM is outlawed? It is illegal in the UK, but campaigners have warned that the practice still continues and current laws do not adequately ensure the protection of girls in 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 ceremony, 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. "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.” More: Meet the woman whose new kidney came via her local paper More: Meet the first child in the UK with a 3D-printed prosthetic armKeep reading...Show less KSI claims that Asda workers are selling Prime drink on the ' black market'
Khloe Kardashian adds regular treatment to will if she' s ever in a coma
Try Guys' wife claims she saw James Corden yelling at restaurant staff
Please log in or register to upvote this article Top 100
Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister - the best memes and reactions
liz trussprime ministerresignedmemesjokesliz trussOct 20, 2022 Ukraine criticised for sharing bizarre Boris meme after Truss exit
boris johnsonboris johnsonukraineliz truss6h QT audience member appears to say ' b***ocks' about Boris Johnson return
question timeboris johnsonliz trussprime ministerquestion time5h Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip
flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022 Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face
madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022 Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance
elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022 Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'
lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022 Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper
wedding caketiktokwedding cakeviralOct 12, 2022 Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos
Love IslandOct 11, 2022 Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'
steven seagalOct 10, 2022 Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West
lizzoOct 10, 2022 14 of the worst things the Tories did this week
liz trussOct 08, 2022 A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022The Conversation (0)