On Commission | FGM - Fahma Mohamed

Fahma Mohamed

I photographed Fahma Mohamed, a 17-year-old student, at the City Academy in Bristol on the International Day Of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Fahma is leading a new campaign to have FGM recognised as a key UK government priority. She is appealing to Education Minister Michael Gove to write to every headteacher in the UK before the next "cutting season" – the summer holidays; when girls are cut in order to give them time to recover without it being noticed by teachers – asking them to train schools and parents about FGM.

It's horrifying to think that girls in UK schools could be exposed to this barbaric mutilation but it is believed around 24,000 British girls are currently at serious risk. 

“We need to act now. Many girls are sent away to be cut over the summer holidays. Some are cut at home. They call it the ‘cutting season’. If every headteacher was given the information they need to talk about FGM to students and parents we could reach every girl who is at risk before the holidays. We could convince families not to send their daughters to be cut and we can help girls who are at risk. We could break the cycle so the next generation is safe.”

— Fahma Mohamed

Fahma Mohamed photographed it the corridors of the City Academy Bristol

There is a CHANGE petition running here, with just under 170,000 signatories. Please take the time to support Fahma and her campaign.