The Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development (FORWARD) is a British NGO, founded in 1983 by
Efua Dorkenoo, that supports women who have experienced
female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) (also known as female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and female circumcision) is the cutting or removal of some or all of the vulva for non-medical reasons. Prevalence of female ge ...
(FGM) and tries to eliminate the practice.
History
FORWARD evolved from the Women's Action Group for Female Excision and Infibulation (WAGFEI), which comprised UK-based women concerned about FGM. Efua Dorkenoo coordinated the group between 1981 and 1983 under the auspices of the
Minority Rights Group (MRG), and travelled to gather facts about FGM from various countries in Africa to compile into an MRG report on the practice.
The organization runs several programmes in the UK and in East and West Africa. According to FORWARD, there are around 100,000 women in the UK who have experienced FGM.
Bryony Gordon
Bryony Naomi Gordon (born 5 July 1980) is an English journalist, author, broadcaster and podcaster. She is the author of the novels, Mad Girl, You Got This, and The Wrong Knickers which were all nominated for British Book Awards. She founded Me ...
"Making trouble in the name of mutilated women"
''The Daily Telegraph'', 31 October 2005. The Executive Director is
Naana Otoo-Oyortey.
See also
*
Comfort Momoh
*
FGM in the UK
*''
My Body My Rules'', a short film about female genital mutilation, developed by FORWARD
Notes
External links
FORWARD The Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development, accessed 11 September 2011.
"Hospitals and Clinics in the UK offering Specialist FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Services", FORWARD, accessed 11 September 2011.
"'Harmful' tradition continues in Britain" BBC News, 22 November 2000.
'UK's FGM safeguarding policies undermining welfare, study warns' The Guardian, 4 February 2021.
Female genital mutilation
Health charities in the United Kingdom
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