Summer sees rise in Female Genital Mutilation cases : Thames (UK)

We're being encouraged to look out for signs that girls in the Thames Valley are victims or at risk of female genital mutilation.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for the region has advice on what to do in these situations as well.

What is it?     

FGM is a practise where girls can be left with long-term damage and is a crime in the UK.

It involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other damage to the genital organs, for supposed cultural, religious or non-medical reasons. This practice inflicts severe physical and psychological damage to the child which can last a lifetime.

Around 66,000 girls and women living in England and Wales have undergone FGM, with a further estimated 20,000 girls under the age of 15 at risk.

It is routinely practiced in some African and Middle Eastern countries - in some places up to 98 per cent of young women have undergone the FGM procedure.

Whilst it is thought the crime predominantly takes place outside the UK, it is believed to be vastly under-reported.

The summer holidays are a particularly high risk time for potential victims of this practice when girls may be taken out of the country for the procedure.

'Vital' to know

Anthony Stansfeld, Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley said:

6,100 women and children trafficked in 2016

KATHMANDU , July 4: As many as 6,100 women and children were reportedly trafficked from the country during the fiscal year 2072-73 BS, a report reveals. 

The 'Trafficking in persons' National Report released by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today showed that 98 % among the trafficked were women. 

The Report has projected that 13,600 women and children are vulnerable to human trafficking. Some 3,900 women and children are still missing and over 70 % of them are children, according to the report. 

It is found that women and children have been coercively trafficked to China for sexual work and to Afghanistan, the United Kingdom and South Korea to engage them as security guard. 
At least 312 cases of human trafficking have been registered at Nepal Police during the fiscal year. RSS 

Female Genital Mutilation – more like genocide on female libido by Chandni Shahpara Malik

I would like to meet the people who wangled the pipe dream of the “shareef ghar ki larki”, literally “daughter of a pious household” syndrome and to show them how such a concept, under the right circumstances of patriarchal suffocation, can engender a rogue badass woman.

Before I introduce them to such a rogue charlatan element of society, I would like them to know what it is that they are asking for; I have a feeling they might not themselves have grasped the idea of a “shareef larki”. Enter Chandni.

Several years back, during my undergraduate years, I met a young Muslim student from Southeast Asia (thankfully not Pakistan) who was preparing for her wedding to a white American convert. She informed me that she was worried about being inadequate towards her husband's sexual needs as she was circumcised. For all obvious reasons, after having spurted my café mocha on her crisp blue top, I asked her, “so, you have a male genitalia? Crap! Have you been harbouring illicit desires towards me? Are you having them right now? I mean I'll pay for the dry cleaning.” She laughed, but in all seriousness asked me, “surely you know how some of us are circumcised? It's the right thing to do for us good Muslim women.” Me, sipping my coffee incessantly, “wait, what? Muslim women are supposed to be circumcised? Says who? Since when?” “You had the best circumcision of all time but, Imma go to town on my husband when I get married!” I said faking a Kanye West accent and a wink.

Liberia: Orwoch Trains Female Aspirants & CSOs

As part of efforts to enhance the capacity of female aspirants in the October 2017 Presidential and Legislative elections, a local advocacy group, Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) will today Friday June 30, 2017 hold a one-day training for female aspirants and CSOs at the YWCA Conference Hall, Congo Town.

The Organization for Women and Children is an organization that focuses on championing the cause of women increased participation in decision making process, and the reduction of sexual and gender based violence.

In a release, the Program Manager of the Group, Bowoulo T. Kelley, said that the training will be held under the theme 'Enhancing Women's Capacity as Right Holders to become Change Agents in the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence and increased Democratic Participation' is being supported by OXFAM with funds from the Government of Netherlands.

The release said the training is intended to build the capacity of participants to engage in political debates, lobby at the Legislature, and develop strategic advocacy techniques. The training targets young female politicians, decision makers, and heads of civil society organizations at the central and local levels to champion the prevention of violence against women.

"According to data by the United Nations Population Division, women make up 49.60 percent of the population in Liberia, with only 11% representation in Parliament. Thus, the percent of women in Liberia is critical to changing the paradigm of decision making in Liberia. Yet, years of patriarchy has prevented women from attaining the social and political advancement that should accrue to them as a group", the release said.

The release stated that the overall objective of this project is to support the participation of women in politics and in decision-making process, by creating an environment conducive for their meaningful participation, and to support capacity development of women before, during and after the elections at the central and local levels.

In recent times, there have been efforts by partners and the government of Liberia to ensure that marginalized groups such as women, youth, and the disabled are included in the national planning processes.

Nigeria: Human Traffickers earn over $150bn annually - ILO

AS the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, steps up its campaign against human trafficking and other forms of forced labour including child labour in Nigeria, human trafficking and other forms of forced labour have been on the increase globally because of huge profit being generated.

According to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, not less than $150 billion profits are earned annually by traffickers across the globe.

Photo: This Day








ILO, in its report lamented that an estimated 21 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery with 14.2 million (68%) exploited for Labour, 4.5 million (22%) sexually exploited, and 2.2 million (10%) exploited in state-imposed forced labour.

ILO explained that Forced Labour takes place in many different industries stating that out of the 14.2 million trafficking victims exploited for Labour; 7.1 million (50%) forced Labour victims work in construction, manufacturing, mining, or utilities; 3.4 million (24%) forced labour victims are domestic workers; while 3.5 million (25%) forced labour victims work in agriculture.

It noted that 55% of trafficking victims around the world are women and girls and 45% are men and boys; 15.4 million victims (74%) are aged 18 or older, with the number of children under the age of 18 estimated at 5.5 million (26%).