District 29, Area 3 Escalates Discussion of Female Genital Mutilation with Film Screenings

A District 29, Area 03 action for the Zonta says NO campaign aims to escalate discussion about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on an unprecedented scale by showing an award-winning film in universities across the UK, followed by a Q & A session, as a first step to stimulating conversation in the wider community about this sensitive subject.

In partnership with maternal health charity SafeHands for Mothers the club is pleased to show “The Cutting Tradition”, an award-winning documentary narrated by Meryl Streep that examines the complex reasons behind the continuing practice of FGM. The documentary was produced and co-directed by Nancy Durrell McKenna (below), a member of Zonta Club London II and Founder Director of registered charity SafeHands for Mothers.

SafeHands’ vision is a world where no woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. They work to achieve this by producing films to educate, inform, and inspire change. They also work in remote areas to promote access to good maternal health care so that any complications, including those caused by FGM, can be addressed.

FGM affects over 60,000 women in the UK and millions worldwide. It is estimated that as many as 20,000 girls in the UK are today at risk. The UK Government has recognised the practice as a violation of human rights and has recently announced a £35 million programme aiming to end FGM within one generation.