Extraordinary Mothers: Stopping FGM

At Embrace, we are privileged to hear stories of the incredible bravery, resilience and resourcefulness of mothers who (with a little bit of help from the projects we support) have overcome the odds and built safer, better lives for themselves and their families.

Sometimes it’s not only their own children that mothers look out for – but other people’s too. This week we meet Myriam, who did just this:

MYRIAM’S STORY

When Myriam’s sister died, she heard that her brother-in-law and his new wife were planning to get her two nieces circumcised.

Female Genital Mutilation is illegal in Egypt, but social pressure means that many families still carry out the practice. Embrace partner the Salaam Centre runs seminars explaining not only the health implications of FGM but also the legal protection and rights women have – giving Myriam, and other women in the community, the knowledge and power to be able to prevent it.

Myriam approached her brother to explain the harm FGM would do. When he did not listen and was still planning on going ahead, Myriam threatened to report the crime. Penalties for those found guilty of FGM include an immediate fine and time in prison. Thankfully, this threat was enough to stop her brother and Myriam was able to protect her nieces, as her sister would have wanted.

*image for illustrative purposes only. Credit: Seyed Tabatabaee, Unsplash