Powerful, shocking, and devastating stories of seven young girls, that have all undergone FGM in Putland, Somalia. This programme funded by GMC, was broadcast on Sahan Radio Garowe: heard in Nugal districts, and also shared across social media.

Foreword:

All the interviews were carried out by journalist Ms. Asia Abshir Aden, whose nickname is Dulmar. Ms.Aden understands first hand the pain of FGM since she too is an FGM survivor.

Ms. Aden is the Founder and Excutive Director at Save the Rights org.

In this article the girls share their heartbreaking stories: some girls having witnessed FGM deaths, others sharing that they struggle to study, and heartbreaking truths of classroom traumas as the girls are in so much pain during their periods and if the teacher is male they “cannot claim it”. Another girl shares she has to lie down for a week when she gets her period .

“As a female journalist, I understand that FGM has a negative impact and damages not only the body but also the mind, I also underwent FGM. I have chosen to fight against FGM. My career as an activist is to stand up for the safety of young girls”.

Ms. Asia Abshir Aden

FGM in Somalia:

In Somalia, FGM has a 98% preference rate. The type of FGM is typically Type 3 and the most severe which involves sewing up the vagina before a girl is married off. This leads to infection and tremendous pain, especially during their menstrual cycle. Later once the the girl is married, the stitches are opened up and girls experience horrific pain during sexual intercourse, this then often leads to potentially fatal consequences during childbirth.

Iman Mohamed Hassan, grade 12/F4 at Al-Hikma Secondary School in G/Puntland Somalia:

“I believe that circumcision is a wrong idea that was invented by the people before us, our fathers and mothers and even our grandfathers, starting with their daughters, their babies, the bad path that they have taken, until now it has a negative impact and problems on the current and future girls”.

Iman Mohamed Hassan

“The teachers who teach normal subjects do not get involved in this topic, only religious subject teachers do, the teachers are also men and they do not have a problem with FGM, only female teachers feel sorry for us, they feel worse than us and they inform us about it, but the male teachers do not interfere in this matter, even when you look at the society, a few fathers are aware and talk about the problem it has for girls”.

Iman Mohamed Hassan

“I feel that it is a bad idea and a long-lasting misbehavior, and it is a great abuse to the girls because when I see the problems it has on our girls, I am very against it and I hate that it is continuing”

Iman Mohamed Hassan

Amina Mohamed Hassan, grade 12/F4 at Al-Hikma Secondary School in Gait continues Somalia:

“We believe that this is the biggest challenge girls face, and we need to find a way to overcome it as school students”.

Amina Mohamed Hassan

“We are not given FGM awareness as a group, but some teachers are personally aware sometimes, 100% girls in our family are circumcised, except for one or two, who are not circumcised”.

Amina Mohamed Hassan

Maryan Ali.Haaji Abdi health Institute Growe Puntland/Somalia:

“It may happen that the day her period comes and she is sick that there is a male teacher and she cannot claim her problem. We can’t claim it, but we claim it for the female teachers. All the FGM problems have been overcome because of raising awareness. I hope that the next generations will get a better chance.”

Maryan Ali.Haaji Abdi

Qaali Shire, Haaji Abdi health Institute Growe Puntland/Somalia:

“There are no deaths in my family but I have heard that people have died. It is dangerous in many parts and I have also been through it.”

Qaali Shire

“I have got many sisters and I and our family have not had any problems with FGM, I thank God that they are saved from the FGM problems we have suffered.”

Qaali Shire

Hodan Hassan Farah, grade 12/F4 at Al-Hikma Secondary School in G/Puntland Somalia:

“It is a tradition that the Somali people have been accustomed to, maybe it has been used for centuries, but in today’s modern society, with scholars, teachers, and students, it is an offense to Somali girls everywhere, regardless of their religion, as far as I know. It has no place in our religion”.

Hodan Hassan Farah

“In 2005, girls who were born were subjected to FGM, which is why today the education level of girls who come to school is less than that of boys, girls become mothers, the effect is still there”.

Hodan Hassan Farah

Ifrah Ahmed Mohamed, a student at Haji Abdi Healthy Institute, Garowe Puntland Somalia:

“A woman goes through a lot of problems during marriage and giving birth, it happens that she can’t give birth normally because of FGM and often the mother has to go through surgeries or she dies”.

Ifrah Ahmed Mohamed

“We have to raise more awareness, we have to do it ourselves and do awareness in the places where the community gathers like schools”.

Ifrah Ahmed Mohamed

Fatima Abdilqadir, a student at Haji Abdi Healthy Institute, Garowe Puntland Somalia:

“I am one of the people who have experienced FGM, it has affected me as it has affected many girls I see. I’m not married yet but my periods are so horrific, sometimes it causes me to lie down for a whole week”

Fatima Abdilqadir

“I have not heard about FGM awareness in educational institutions and how to avoid FGM even.”

Fatima Abdilqadir

“I have also seen girls being mutilated and their bodies being torn apart, causing many problems, even death. it is very difficult for me when I go to study, it causes me to take many pills which is dangerous for my health”.

Fatima Abdilqadir