hi everyone I don’t speak Italian but I want to start by saying one thing Barry
want to start by saying one thing Barry
want to start by saying one thing Barry una cheetah Bella Italia Bella Africa is
una cheetah Bella Italia Bella Africa is
una cheetah Bella Italia Bella Africa is home to 15% of the world’s population
home to 15% of the world’s population
home to 15% of the world’s population it’s the cradle of humankind
Africa is home to some of the world’s
Africa is home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural phenomenons
most beautiful natural phenomenons
most beautiful natural phenomenons it houses the world’s largest non polar
it houses the world’s largest non polar
it houses the world’s largest non polar desert Africa is also the home of the
desert Africa is also the home of the
desert Africa is also the home of the largest FGM practice in countries
female genital mutilation or FGM is the
female genital mutilation or FGM is the partial or total removal of the female
partial or total removal of the female
partial or total removal of the female genital exterior there are four types of
genital exterior there are four types of
genital exterior there are four types of FGM type one is the partial or total
FGM type one is the partial or total
FGM type one is the partial or total removal of the clitoris type two is the
removal of the clitoris type two is the
removal of the clitoris type two is the removal of the clitoris as well as the
removal of the clitoris as well as the
removal of the clitoris as well as the inner labia with or without the removal
inner labia with or without the removal
inner labia with or without the removal of the lobby imagiro type three is the
of the lobby imagiro type three is the
of the lobby imagiro type three is the narrowing of the vagina by creating a
narrowing of the vagina by creating a
narrowing of the vagina by creating a seal or sewing it together which is also
seal or sewing it together which is also
seal or sewing it together which is also known as in fibrillation type four is
known as in fibrillation type four is
known as in fibrillation type four is any other handful practice to the vagina
any other handful practice to the vagina
any other handful practice to the vagina such as piercing burning or cutting
such as piercing burning or cutting
such as piercing burning or cutting that’s done for non-medical reasons FGM
that’s done for non-medical reasons FGM
that’s done for non-medical reasons FGM happens in 28 countries in Africa out of
happens in 28 countries in Africa out of
happens in 28 countries in Africa out of those 28 countries as of them are
those 28 countries as of them are
those 28 countries as of them are located within the 12 countries that
located within the 12 countries that
located within the 12 countries that compromise of the Sahara Desert I went
compromise of the Sahara Desert I went
compromise of the Sahara Desert I went through FGM myself when I was one week
through FGM myself when I was one week
through FGM myself when I was one week old and I think I experienced the
old and I think I experienced the
old and I think I experienced the effects of FGM the most as a 15 year old
effects of FGM the most as a 15 year old
effects of FGM the most as a 15 year old when I got married and a lot of times I
when I got married and a lot of times I
when I got married and a lot of times I think I lived all my life believing that
think I lived all my life believing that
think I lived all my life believing that FGM was a religious application and that
FGM was a religious application and that
FGM was a religious application and that it was the only thing to do in order for
it was the only thing to do in order for
it was the only thing to do in order for me to be eligible for marriage but I
me to be eligible for marriage but I
me to be eligible for marriage but I think it’s important for people to
think it’s important for people to
think it’s important for people to understand that FGM has nothing to do
understand that FGM has nothing to do
understand that FGM has nothing to do with religion it predates Islam in all
with religion it predates Islam in all
with religion it predates Islam in all other Abrahamic religions FGM has no
other Abrahamic religions FGM has no
other Abrahamic religions FGM has no benefit to women and leave girls with
benefit to women and leave girls with
benefit to women and leave girls with lasting physical and mental health
lasting physical and mental health
lasting physical and mental health implications when I first decided to
implications when I first decided to
implications when I first decided to talk about this issue and share my story
talk about this issue and share my story
talk about this issue and share my story publicly it was the hardest thing that
publicly it was the hardest thing that
publicly it was the hardest thing that I’ve ever done and it’s still the
I’ve ever done and it’s still the
I’ve ever done and it’s still the hardest thing I will continue to do and
hardest thing I will continue to do and
hardest thing I will continue to do and the reason is I come from a culture
the reason is I come from a culture
the reason is I come from a culture where people thrive on women’s silence a
where people thrive on women’s silence a
where people thrive on women’s silence a lot of times a woman is not supposed to
lot of times a woman is not supposed to
lot of times a woman is not supposed to talk about things between her legs a
talk about things between her legs a
talk about things between her legs a woman is not supposed to talk about her
woman is not supposed to talk about her
woman is not supposed to talk about her suffering because this is something
suffering because this is something
suffering because this is something we’ve seen a parent
we’ve seen a parent
we’ve seen a parent go through my sisters before me went
go through my sisters before me went
go through my sisters before me went through with my grandmother’s before me
through with my grandmother’s before me
through with my grandmother’s before me went through it so it’s expected that we
went through it so it’s expected that we
went through it so it’s expected that we lived through it and I was startled by
lived through it and I was startled by
lived through it and I was startled by the amount of silence in our community I
the amount of silence in our community I
the amount of silence in our community I was startled by the fact that no one was
was startled by the fact that no one was
was startled by the fact that no one was talking about this issue and to me it
talking about this issue and to me it
talking about this issue and to me it became personal when I had my daughter I
became personal when I had my daughter I
became personal when I had my daughter I remember holding my daughter close and
remember holding my daughter close and
remember holding my daughter close and thinking how I would never allow her to
thinking how I would never allow her to
thinking how I would never allow her to go through what I went through and the
go through what I went through and the
go through what I went through and the only way I knew how to do that was by
only way I knew how to do that was by
only way I knew how to do that was by speaking out so I decided to come out
speaking out so I decided to come out
speaking out so I decided to come out with my story and talk to the world
with my story and talk to the world
with my story and talk to the world about it and I knew that ending FGM we
about it and I knew that ending FGM we
about it and I knew that ending FGM we had to put a face to it I live in
had to put a face to it I live in
had to put a face to it I live in Atlanta Georgia which is a Western
Atlanta Georgia which is a Western
Atlanta Georgia which is a Western country and by getting people in America
country and by getting people in America
country and by getting people in America to understand that this is the issue
to understand that this is the issue
to understand that this is the issue that affects them because a lot of time
that affects them because a lot of time
that affects them because a lot of time I think when we talk about the issue of
I think when we talk about the issue of
I think when we talk about the issue of FGM we want to make it seem like it’s an
FGM we want to make it seem like it’s an
FGM we want to make it seem like it’s an African problem it’s by those barbaric
African problem it’s by those barbaric
African problem it’s by those barbaric Africans in somewhere that don’t know
Africans in somewhere that don’t know
Africans in somewhere that don’t know what they are doing but FGM is not just
what they are doing but FGM is not just
what they are doing but FGM is not just an African problem it’s practiced in
an African problem it’s practiced in
an African problem it’s practiced in Asia it’s practice in the Middle East
Asia it’s practice in the Middle East
Asia it’s practice in the Middle East and it’s something that used to be
and it’s something that used to be
and it’s something that used to be practiced in countries like the United
practiced in countries like the United
practiced in countries like the United States they called it clitoridectomy
States they called it clitoridectomy
States they called it clitoridectomy simply and it even graced the cover of
simply and it even graced the cover of
simply and it even graced the cover of Playboy and a lot of times I think also
Playboy and a lot of times I think also
Playboy and a lot of times I think also we assume that girls who have
we assume that girls who have
we assume that girls who have experienced FGM can say no to FGM but
experienced FGM can say no to FGM but
experienced FGM can say no to FGM but that’s not true and I think it’s naive
that’s not true and I think it’s naive
that’s not true and I think it’s naive to believe that if girls had a choice to
to believe that if girls had a choice to
to believe that if girls had a choice to practice FGM I wouldn’t stand in front
practice FGM I wouldn’t stand in front
practice FGM I wouldn’t stand in front of you this is a practice that’s forced
of you this is a practice that’s forced
of you this is a practice that’s forced on girls without their say in it and
on girls without their say in it and
on girls without their say in it and it’s their body and we have to remember
it’s their body and we have to remember
it’s their body and we have to remember when we allow girls to go through FGM we
when we allow girls to go through FGM we
when we allow girls to go through FGM we are taking their rights to their body we
are taking their rights to their body we
are taking their rights to their body we are taking their rights to feel sexual
are taking their rights to feel sexual
are taking their rights to feel sexual pleasure and not only that I think at
pleasure and not only that I think at
pleasure and not only that I think at the end of the day we have to understand
the end of the day we have to understand
the end of the day we have to understand that FGM only exists to control women
that FGM only exists to control women
that FGM only exists to control women and I think is the lack of understanding
and I think is the lack of understanding
and I think is the lack of understanding and understatement of violence against
and understatement of violence against
and understatement of violence against girls in the first place and the reason
girls in the first place and the reason
girls in the first place and the reason why I do the work that I do and I
why I do the work that I do and I
why I do the work that I do and I continue doing this work is because I
continue doing this work is because I
continue doing this work is because I want people to understand that FGM does
want people to understand that FGM does
want people to understand that FGM does not define them I want girls to know
not define them I want girls to know
not define them I want girls to know that
that
that going through this practice doesn’t mean
going through this practice doesn’t mean
going through this practice doesn’t mean that your life is over I want women to
that your life is over I want women to
that your life is over I want women to understand that just because you got
understand that just because you got
understand that just because you got married at the age of 15 doesn’t mean
married at the age of 15 doesn’t mean
married at the age of 15 doesn’t mean that life stops there you can rise up
that life stops there you can rise up
that life stops there you can rise up and you can be more than that I mean
and you can be more than that I mean
and you can be more than that I mean they say that you know your destiny is
they say that you know your destiny is
they say that you know your destiny is defined but I feel like you can truly
defined but I feel like you can truly
defined but I feel like you can truly change your destiny I want to also share
change your destiny I want to also share
change your destiny I want to also share a video with all of you by doing this
a video with all of you by doing this
a video with all of you by doing this work I’ve met a lot of girls like me
work I’ve met a lot of girls like me
work I’ve met a lot of girls like me it’s hard and challenging when you start
it’s hard and challenging when you start
it’s hard and challenging when you start talking about FGM or when you start
talking about FGM or when you start
talking about FGM or when you start working on a similar type of issue and
working on a similar type of issue and
working on a similar type of issue and because of that we created a sisterhood
because of that we created a sisterhood
because of that we created a sisterhood it’s called the big sister movement and
it’s called the big sister movement and
it’s called the big sister movement and it’s by women all over Africa working on
it’s by women all over Africa working on
it’s by women all over Africa working on this issue and I figured that it’s a
this issue and I figured that it’s a
this issue and I figured that it’s a good way for us to support each other to
good way for us to support each other to
good way for us to support each other to talk about our best practices when I
talk about our best practices when I
talk about our best practices when I went back to my home country of the
went back to my home country of the
went back to my home country of the Gambia and started working on the issue
Gambia and started working on the issue
Gambia and started working on the issue of FGM half of the things that we were
of FGM half of the things that we were
of FGM half of the things that we were able to do as young people I didn’t
able to do as young people I didn’t
able to do as young people I didn’t think it was possible to get those
think it was possible to get those
think it was possible to get those things done young people came together
things done young people came together
things done young people came together for the first time from various
for the first time from various
for the first time from various organizations and campaigns like never
organizations and campaigns like never
organizations and campaigns like never before we use the media we were able to
before we use the media we were able to
before we use the media we were able to convince the government of the Gambia to
convince the government of the Gambia to
convince the government of the Gambia to ban FGM and I think it shows the power
ban FGM and I think it shows the power
ban FGM and I think it shows the power of commitment it shows the power of
of commitment it shows the power of
of commitment it shows the power of dedication it shows that nothing is
dedication it shows that nothing is
dedication it shows that nothing is impossible FGM has been around for god
impossible FGM has been around for god
impossible FGM has been around for god knows nobody knows how long this
knows nobody knows how long this
knows nobody knows how long this practice has been around and Gambia is a
practice has been around and Gambia is a
practice has been around and Gambia is a country where 76 percent of women have
country where 76 percent of women have
country where 76 percent of women have experienced FGM globally you have 200
experienced FGM globally you have 200
experienced FGM globally you have 200 million women who are currently living
million women who are currently living
million women who are currently living with FGM every year 2 million girls
with FGM every year 2 million girls
with FGM every year 2 million girls undergo FGM and I personally believe
undergo FGM and I personally believe
undergo FGM and I personally believe that the people that have dedicated
that the people that have dedicated
that the people that have dedicated their life to ending FGM are people that
their life to ending FGM are people that
their life to ending FGM are people that I would commend in and with my success
I would commend in and with my success
I would commend in and with my success in this work I realized that it’s not
in this work I realized that it’s not
in this work I realized that it’s not just my success and if I want to give up
just my success and if I want to give up
just my success and if I want to give up it’s not just jaha giving up I’m giving
it’s not just jaha giving up I’m giving
it’s not just jaha giving up I’m giving up on 200 million women if I stop doing
up on 200 million women if I stop doing
up on 200 million women if I stop doing what I’m doing and that’s why I think
what I’m doing and that’s why I think
what I’m doing and that’s why I think it’s very very important to support the
it’s very very important to support the
it’s very very important to support the women that I work with and I just want
women that I work with and I just want
women that I work with and I just want you guys to watch this short video and
you guys to watch this short video and
you guys to watch this short video and then I’ll continue
then I’ll continue
then I’ll continue I saw my cousin be mutilated
I saw my cousin be mutilated
I saw my cousin be mutilated when all my cousin’s genitals were out
when all my cousin’s genitals were out
when all my cousin’s genitals were out that’s when I realized something was
that’s when I realized something was
that’s when I realized something was terribly wrong
terribly wrong
terribly wrong women are told that you have to be
women are told that you have to be
women are told that you have to be patient and you have to sacrifice we
patient and you have to sacrifice we
patient and you have to sacrifice we have a culture of silence it’s just
have a culture of silence it’s just
have a culture of silence it’s just something that women never talk about I
something that women never talk about I
something that women never talk about I was second side twice I want to let it
was second side twice I want to let it
was second side twice I want to let it go but I cannot accept it to see a young
go but I cannot accept it to see a young
go but I cannot accept it to see a young girl going through this I know the only
girl going through this I know the only
girl going through this I know the only world with so PJ I’m not much away took
world with so PJ I’m not much away took
world with so PJ I’m not much away took us is to break down that silence she’s
us is to break down that silence she’s
us is to break down that silence she’s like you don’t have a choice is that I
like you don’t have a choice is that I
like you don’t have a choice is that I your quote or your scene like an outcast
your quote or your scene like an outcast
your quote or your scene like an outcast in the community so what I gonna do an
in the community so what I gonna do an
in the community so what I gonna do an art competition the first of its kind to
art competition the first of its kind to
art competition the first of its kind to design a poster warning of the dangers
design a poster warning of the dangers
design a poster warning of the dangers of female genital mutilation these ways
of female genital mutilation these ways
of female genital mutilation these ways the voice of the voiceless has to be had
the voice of the voiceless has to be had
the voice of the voiceless has to be had I’m going to make sure the fire keeps on
I’m going to make sure the fire keeps on
I’m going to make sure the fire keeps on running all along it’s not just a saying
running all along it’s not just a saying
running all along it’s not just a saying we are going to end FGM Somali refugee
we are going to end FGM Somali refugee
we are going to end FGM Somali refugee is due to return to advise the
is due to return to advise the
is due to return to advise the government on NGO genital cutting on
government on NGO genital cutting on
government on NGO genital cutting on your tuition the Gambian government has
your tuition the Gambian government has
your tuition the Gambian government has introduced a ban on female genital
introduced a ban on female genital
introduced a ban on female genital mutilation the bank alone is not enough
mutilation the bank alone is not enough
mutilation the bank alone is not enough it’s going to take activists to use
it’s going to take activists to use
it’s going to take activists to use media and other platforms to make sure
media and other platforms to make sure
media and other platforms to make sure that the message reaches the people that
that the message reaches the people that
that the message reaches the people that it needs to reach to make sure that
it needs to reach to make sure that
it needs to reach to make sure that communities are sensitized what are you
communities are sensitized what are you
communities are sensitized what are you waiting for when the community is ready
waiting for when the community is ready
waiting for when the community is ready to change
you also have to stand up you all right
you also have to stand up you all right so what you want to do I must fight that
so what you want to do I must fight that
so what you want to do I must fight that much trouble I must I would not just
much trouble I must I would not just
much trouble I must I would not just stand like that think about the three
stand like that think about the three
stand like that think about the three million girls that are going through
million girls that are going through
million girls that are going through this practice every single year the six
this practice every single year the six
this practice every single year the six thousand girls a day just the thought of
thousand girls a day just the thought of
thousand girls a day just the thought of that only waiting for us to take the
that only waiting for us to take the
that only waiting for us to take the message to them and tell them what
message to them and tell them what
message to them and tell them what you’re feeling is right FGM is from
you’re feeling is right FGM is from
you’re feeling is right FGM is from that’s all I’m doing one hell of a job
that’s all I’m doing one hell of a job
that’s all I’m doing one hell of a job and if you empower these girls they are
and if you empower these girls they are
and if you empower these girls they are going to do
going to do
going to do this video shows that when you empower
this video shows that when you empower
this video shows that when you empower girls when you empower people from the
girls when you empower people from the
girls when you empower people from the community to end FGM it’s something
community to end FGM it’s something
community to end FGM it’s something that’s impossible and I’ve traveled a
that’s impossible and I’ve traveled a
that’s impossible and I’ve traveled a lot throughout the world to talk about
lot throughout the world to talk about
lot throughout the world to talk about FGM and I’ve met these amazing women and
FGM and I’ve met these amazing women and
FGM and I’ve met these amazing women and because of them we’ve started something
because of them we’ve started something
because of them we’ve started something that’s very very special and I believe
that’s very very special and I believe
that’s very very special and I believe that with our movement with women
that with our movement with women
that with our movement with women standing together it doesn’t matter if
standing together it doesn’t matter if
standing together it doesn’t matter if you’ve gone through FGM or not it
you’ve gone through FGM or not it
you’ve gone through FGM or not it doesn’t matter if you’re from that
doesn’t matter if you’re from that
doesn’t matter if you’re from that community or not one thing that I’ve
community or not one thing that I’ve
community or not one thing that I’ve always said is that as human beings we
always said is that as human beings we
always said is that as human beings we have an application to end up GM and I
have an application to end up GM and I
have an application to end up GM and I don’t think we can end FGM by judging
don’t think we can end FGM by judging
don’t think we can end FGM by judging cultures that practice FGM that’s not
cultures that practice FGM that’s not
cultures that practice FGM that’s not how you end FGM and in FGM it’s through
how you end FGM and in FGM it’s through
how you end FGM and in FGM it’s through education and it’s through a better
education and it’s through a better
education and it’s through a better understanding of why FGM happens in the
understanding of why FGM happens in the
understanding of why FGM happens in the first place
first place
first place by us looking at people that practice
by us looking at people that practice
by us looking at people that practice FGM and considering them as people that
FGM and considering them as people that
FGM and considering them as people that are in Africa and barbaric is not the
are in Africa and barbaric is not the
are in Africa and barbaric is not the solution I think the real solution is
solution I think the real solution is
solution I think the real solution is empowering girls themselves to speak out
empowering girls themselves to speak out
empowering girls themselves to speak out against FGM to break that culture of
against FGM to break that culture of
against FGM to break that culture of silence to stand up and that’s why we
silence to stand up and that’s why we
silence to stand up and that’s why we started safe hands for girls in the
started safe hands for girls in the
started safe hands for girls in the Gambia
Gambia
Gambia we work with young people we work with
we work with young people we work with
we work with young people we work with religious leaders we work with survivors
religious leaders we work with survivors
religious leaders we work with survivors we work with advocates and now with the
we work with advocates and now with the
we work with advocates and now with the launch of our new big sister movement we
launch of our new big sister movement we
launch of our new big sister movement we will be working in five countries in
will be working in five countries in
will be working in five countries in Africa fourth side we will be in The
Africa fourth side we will be in The
Africa fourth side we will be in The Gambia we are working in Somalia in
Gambia we are working in Somalia in
Gambia we are working in Somalia in Sierra Leone in Nigeria and in Kenya and
Sierra Leone in Nigeria and in Kenya and
Sierra Leone in Nigeria and in Kenya and it’s very very important to me that you
it’s very very important to me that you
it’s very very important to me that you know it’s very very important to me that
know it’s very very important to me that
know it’s very very important to me that people realize that this is not
people realize that this is not
people realize that this is not something and I know that I’ve
something and I know that I’ve
something and I know that I’ve emphasized that a lot that ending FGM is
emphasized that a lot that ending FGM is
emphasized that a lot that ending FGM is not something that’s impossible when I
not something that’s impossible when I
not something that’s impossible when I first went to Gambia incited campaigning
first went to Gambia incited campaigning
first went to Gambia incited campaigning I remember people told me that my life
I remember people told me that my life
I remember people told me that my life would be at risk people said that
would be at risk people said that
would be at risk people said that because of the type of government that
because of the type of government that
because of the type of government that we have in the Gambia a lot of people
we have in the Gambia a lot of people
we have in the Gambia a lot of people were worried about me but being born in
were worried about me but being born in
were worried about me but being born in the Gambia in a village that’s with
the Gambia in a village that’s with
the Gambia in a village that’s with 10,000 people that’s how big my village
10,000 people that’s how big my village
10,000 people that’s how big my village is and moving to the United States when
is and moving to the United States when
is and moving to the United States when I was 15 years old for an arranged
I was 15 years old for an arranged
I was 15 years old for an arranged marriage and then going back to my home
marriage and then going back to my home
marriage and then going back to my home country at the age of 25 to lobby for
country at the age of 25 to lobby for
country at the age of 25 to lobby for that no one thought wasn’t possible and
that no one thought wasn’t possible and
that no one thought wasn’t possible and getting that law passed and coming back
getting that law passed and coming back
getting that law passed and coming back to the United States and being named as
to the United States and being named as
to the United States and being named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most
one of Time Magazine’s 100 most
one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people to me that’s hope to
influential people to me that’s hope to
influential people to me that’s hope to meet that’s change and it shows that
meet that’s change and it shows that
meet that’s change and it shows that with determination it shows that with
with determination it shows that with
with determination it shows that with the right support system nothing is
the right support system nothing is
the right support system nothing is impossible when I look up when I look at
impossible when I look up when I look at
impossible when I look up when I look at this work that I’m doing I can’t help
this work that I’m doing I can’t help
this work that I’m doing I can’t help but think about the Sahara Desert
but think about the Sahara Desert
but think about the Sahara Desert because that’s the team of why we are
because that’s the team of why we are
because that’s the team of why we are here today when you look at this desert
here today when you look at this desert
here today when you look at this desert with the hash ecosystem the lack of
with the hash ecosystem the lack of
with the hash ecosystem the lack of rainfall and the extreme heat and this
rainfall and the extreme heat and this
rainfall and the extreme heat and this work that we are doing is hash I always
work that we are doing is hash I always
work that we are doing is hash I always tell my team when people come to work
tell my team when people come to work
tell my team when people come to work with me one thing that I always tell
with me one thing that I always tell
with me one thing that I always tell them is the roads are very muddy and
them is the roads are very muddy and
them is the roads are very muddy and they are very dirty and it’s not even a
they are very dirty and it’s not even a
they are very dirty and it’s not even a pave way it’s not even a smooth Road
pave way it’s not even a smooth Road
pave way it’s not even a smooth Road that’s how hard it has been doing this
that’s how hard it has been doing this
that’s how hard it has been doing this work and with like the desert my family
work and with like the desert my family
work and with like the desert my family looks at me that this is not the best
looks at me that this is not the best
looks at me that this is not the best career path to grow and because of all
career path to grow and because of all
career path to grow and because of all the issues with the desert it may not
the issues with the desert it may not
the issues with the desert it may not seem as the most optimal place to grow
seem as the most optimal place to grow
seem as the most optimal place to grow but like we’ve seen with previous
but like we’ve seen with previous
but like we’ve seen with previous presentations with anything is possible
presentations with anything is possible
presentations with anything is possible the same way they were able to bring
the same way they were able to bring
the same way they were able to bring water into Petra is the same thing that
water into Petra is the same thing that
water into Petra is the same thing that we are doing with FGM and I know that my
we are doing with FGM and I know that my
we are doing with FGM and I know that my daughter’s not going to go through FGM
daughter’s not going to go through FGM
daughter’s not going to go through FGM and because of the law in the Gambia is
and because of the law in the Gambia is
and because of the law in the Gambia is not only my daughter but over a million
not only my daughter but over a million
not only my daughter but over a million girls will be saved as a result of the
girls will be saved as a result of the
girls will be saved as a result of the work that we’ve done collectively in the
work that we’ve done collectively in the
work that we’ve done collectively in the Gambia and the sisters in Kenya that are
Gambia and the sisters in Kenya that are
Gambia and the sisters in Kenya that are working on this issue the sisters in
working on this issue the sisters in
working on this issue the sisters in Nigeria that are working on this and our
Nigeria that are working on this and our
Nigeria that are working on this and our sisters in Sierra Leone that are working
sisters in Sierra Leone that are working
sisters in Sierra Leone that are working on this with every single one of them
on this with every single one of them
on this with every single one of them every single day and I know the
every single day and I know the
every single day and I know the sacrifices that they’ve made I’ve made a
sacrifices that they’ve made I’ve made a
sacrifices that they’ve made I’ve made a lot of sacrifices one of the young girls
lot of sacrifices one of the young girls
lot of sacrifices one of the young girls that work with me told me that we should
that work with me told me that we should
that work with me told me that we should do a session for what we’ve lost in this
do a session for what we’ve lost in this
do a session for what we’ve lost in this campaign I’ve lost friends I’ve lost
campaign I’ve lost friends I’ve lost
campaign I’ve lost friends I’ve lost family but at the end of the day is
family but at the end of the day is
family but at the end of the day is worth it
worth it
worth it because right now I can stand in front
because right now I can stand in front
because right now I can stand in front of you and say that because of the work
of you and say that because of the work
of you and say that because of the work that I’m doing lives are being saved
that I’m doing lives are being saved
that I’m doing lives are being saved because of the work that I’m doing every
because of the work that I’m doing every
because of the work that I’m doing every single day young people are reaching out
single day young people are reaching out
single day young people are reaching out to me telling me they want to do exactly
to me telling me they want to do exactly
to me telling me they want to do exactly what I’m doing through Twitter through
what I’m doing through Twitter through
what I’m doing through Twitter through Facebook and it shows that change is
Facebook and it shows that change is
Facebook and it shows that change is happening and don’t underestimate you
happening and don’t underestimate you
happening and don’t underestimate you sitting in this room what you can do you
sitting in this room what you can do you
sitting in this room what you can do you can support people on the ground
can support people on the ground
can support people on the ground directly that are working on this issue
directly that are working on this issue
directly that are working on this issue you can reach out and educate yourself
you can reach out and educate yourself
you can reach out and educate yourself about this issue but I think the worst
about this issue but I think the worst
about this issue but I think the worst thing that we can do is to judge
thing that we can do is to judge
thing that we can do is to judge communities that practice FGM that to me
communities that practice FGM that to me
communities that practice FGM that to me is the worst we need to bring them
is the worst we need to bring them
is the worst we need to bring them together and educate them about the
together and educate them about the
together and educate them about the dangers of FGM and it’s only those
dangers of FGM and it’s only those
dangers of FGM and it’s only those communities that themselves that can
communities that themselves that can
communities that themselves that can decide that FGM is harmful and ended on
decide that FGM is harmful and ended on
decide that FGM is harmful and ended on their own so I want to say thank you for
their own so I want to say thank you for
their own so I want to say thank you for listening to my talk and Italia Bella
listening to my talk and Italia Bella
listening to my talk and Italia Bella again
again
again [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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