'Pinned Down and Cut': Horror of Female Genital Mutilation Exposed

In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, Hibo Wardere, author and anti-FGM campaigner from London, sheds light on the harsh and barbaric act of female genital mutilation (FGM). Wardere hopes the book will act as an educational tool to stop others from going through the same thing.

"I hope everyone will pick this book up, and read it," said Hibo Wardere.

"It is an honest account of how I was cut and my campaign for education to prevent others from going through what I did." 

Mrs Wardere was pinned down and cut at the tender of six, by family members and her mother. 

Anti-FGM campaigner and author from London, Hibo Wardere.

© Photo : Hibo Wardere

The book entitled, 'Cut: One Woman's fight against FGM in Britain today', which was launched on April 7^th, exposes the harsh realities of female genital cutting. Telling her own personal story of being forced down and subjected to the cruelest cut, the author draws on the early memories of what happened, but also looks at the present and how she is helping to stop the practice through education, both nationally and internationally.

"It must be a book where you learn about something new and you understand that this barbaric cruel procedure has to be stopped. It is all about education and I want it to be added to the school curriculum not just in the UK but internationally," Mrs Wardere told Sputnik.

Recent statistics have revealed that at least 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut and half of them are living in three countries. Analysis of 30 regions across the globe has found that Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia account for over 50 per cent of those who have had the ritual cutting procedure.

— #WorldHealthDay (@rayvocate) April 7, 2016​

Intro2: #FGM practiced in 28 countries in Africa, where we have the highest prevalence as Somalia, but Nigeria due to its pop. is @ 27%

— #WorldHealthDay (@rayvocate) April 7, 2016​

"It is very important that this book offers hope. It proves that you can come out of this as a fighter."

The book was released on 7^th April, and has been heavily discussed across the board.

"It's been well received I didn't think that would happen. I know that this is desperately needed and to open every aspect of my life and talk about it has been hard but worth it. There are millions of girls suffering and this book will really help them," Mrs Wardere said.

This girl must never be cut pic.twitter.com/mVz2GvQdC3

— ENDFGM/C (@endcuttinggirls) December 17, 2015​

For Mrs Wardere the book is not the end of her campaign chapter.

"We must keep educating, it is a key thing for me and until FGM is eradicated I will keep educating it is freedom and as long as FGM exists I will keep going."