Queen’s birthday honours: Female genital mutilation survivors awarded OBEs

‘FGM was a ridiculous thing that happened to me, but I also had access to education, I also had access to freedom that allows me today to sit here and say that I am a survivor of FGM,’ says Nimco Ali

Nimco Ali says she has been fighting to break the silence among FGM survivors was just seven years old (PA)

Campaigners against female genital mutilation (FGM) have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours for their work towards tackling the practice.

Nimco Ali and Dr Leyla Hussein, who were both victims of the practice as children, received OBEs for services to preventing FGM and gender inequality.

Often performed on young girls, the procedure, which intentionally alters female genitalia for non-medical reasons, has been illegal in Britain since 1985 but the law was strengthened in 2003 to prevent girls travelling to undergo FGM abroad.

It was estimated that in 2015 there were more than 100,000 women and girls living in the UK who had endured female genital cutting, which is linked with severe long-term complications.

Ms Ali said she has been fighting to break the silence among survivors since a teacher told her it was “what happens to girls like you” when she was just seven years old.

She has since helped to make the public aware of the issue.

“In 2019 we are at the tipping point. I know by 2030 we can live in a world where FGM is not practised,” she said.

Praising the government for its commitment to funding projects which tackle FGM in Africa, she said she was accepting the honour on behalf of all those affected by the practice on the continent.

“There are incredible women on the front line in Africa who are fighting to end FGM,” she said.

“I’m immensely privileged. FGM was a ridiculous thing that happened to me, but I also had access to education, I also had access to freedom that allows me today to sit here and say that I am a survivor of FGM; but also to say I am honoured to receive this on behalf of all of the African women whose shoulders I sit on to be here today.”

The World Health Organisation estimates that the proportion of women who have undergone the procedure in some countries is as high as 96 per cent, with the highest rates including Somalia, Guinea, Egypt and Sudan.

Over 200 million women and girls are estimated to be living with the lifelong impact of FGM and 8,000 girls are still being cut each day.

Dr Hussein, a psychotherapist, now travels to countries around the world to campaign against FGM. She said she uses the UK as a “great example”.

She added: “For me, accepting this really is all of us accepting this award together because there are lots of us doing this work. Me and Nimco are just doing a teeny, tiny bit of this.”

Headteacher Elisabeth Carney-Haworth and her husband David, a retired police officer, also receive OBEs for their work with children affected by domestic abuse through their charity, Operation Encompass.

Their scheme ensures that the school of any child exposed to domestic violence where police attend is informed before the start of the school day. It has now been rolled out across 37 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

“It’s been a turbulent journey over the years,” Ms Carney-Haworth said. “But as long as you realise the impact this can have even on one child, the tens upon tens upon tens of thousands of children that Operation Encompass can help means we cannot stop.”

Those furthering the education of disadvantaged young people are also recognised in the list.

British-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., whose politically charged music has explored the nuances of life as a refugee, is being made an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours.

Oscar-winner actor Olivia Colman said she is “totally thrilled” to be made a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, while stage actor Simon Russell Beale is being knighted.

Fifteen foster carers – including a couple who have the surname Foster – are being made MBEs in the Queen’s birthday honours.

Additional reporting by Press Association