A hospital doctor carried out female genital mutilation on a young mother after the birth of her first child in a London hospital, a court has heard . Mounting the first prosecution against someone for carrying out FGM in England and Wales, the Crown alleged that Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, a junior registrar in obstetrics and […]

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it,” said Nelson Mandela. Nasreen Sheikh is, undoubtedly, one of the most courageous people I have ever met. She is a social entrepreneur living in Nepal and is subverting the typical role of a woman in her society. She is changing the lives of […]

In 2004, a 17-year-old British-Pakistani woman named Shafilea Ahmed was suffocated and murdered by her parents, in front of her siblings, after she refused an arranged marriage. Her death is referenced clearly and heartbreakingly on limited-edition covers of the February issue of Cosmopolitan magazine in the U.K. to raise awareness about so-called honor killings—in which […]

THE first memorial day to remember victims of honour killings will be on July 14 – the birthday of 17-year-old Bradford-born Shafilea Ahmed, who was murdered by her parents. The day, which will be marked every year, was secured by Karma Nirvana, a UK charity which supports victims of honour crimes and forced marriages and […]

Canada and Nigeria are collaborating to end child, early and forced marriage in the country, the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria said on Thursday. A statement issued by Ezinne Uluocha, Public Affairs Officer of the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, said a significant reduction in child marriage would ensure a better society. The statement said […]

Forced marriage is one of the last taboos to break. A new law could make it a crime. So why do those who champion prevention oppose it?   Two weeks after her 18th birthday, Lee Marsh was sitting at the kitchen table one Sunday, reading the Bible, when her mother came in and announced that […]

It’s been a busy year for activists seeking to stop female genital mutilation in Britain. We’ve seen media campaigns, debates in parliament, more research on incidence and a full Home Affairs Committee investigation, chaired by Keith Vaz, which resulted in a report, Female genital mutilation: the case for a national action plan. The UK government […]

BRISTOL West Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams (pictured) heard testimony from project workers about the work that a Government-funded organisation in Bristol is doing to end the practice of female genital mutilation. Mr Williams, the Communities’ Minister, helped to end the practice of FGM and so-called ‘honour’ based violence by announcing earlier this month a […]

As a 14-year-old girl faces a possible death sentence after allegedly poisoning her husband, campaigners argue that forced child marriages in Nigeria must end. Today, Wasila Tasi’u has her day in court, though she may struggle to see over the witness box. Aged just 14, Tasi’u is accused of lacing food prepared for a celebration […]