I'm a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | Life Stories

“THAT’S just what happens to little girls like you”, was what Nimco Ali was told by her teacher after she was subjected to the horror of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Just seven years old at the time, Nimco was desperately trying to make sense of what had happened to her but was told what so many survivors hear about FGM - it’s part of being a woman.

The barbaric procedure involves partial or total removal of the female anatomy for non medical reasons and has been illegal in the UK since 1985, and is classified as child abuse.

According to data from 2013, there are 230 million women globally living with FGM, 137,00 of those women live right here in the UK, including Nimco.

Born in Somaliland, her childhood was split between Africa and the UK, living in both Manchester and Cardiff.

The eldest of six siblings, Nimco was the last generation of a long line of women to undergo FGM, and for the past decade she has campaigned to make sure the generational abuse stops for thousands of women globally.

It’s been 34 years since Nimco was subjected to the horror of FGM at the age of seven but she still remembers the sense of ‘evil’ she felt that day.

On a family holiday to Dijbouti, Africa to visit relatives, Nimco had no idea what was planned for her.

Speaking to Fabulous as part of Life Stories, our YouTube series where ordinary people share their extraordinary experiences, Nimco recalls: “It was just before we came back to the UK."

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT NIMCO’S FIGHT TO END FGM:

🎥 Video filmed and edited by Rachael Clarke

[fabulousmag]

Here's how you can support Nimco's flight to end FGM:

[inthechairwithcloochy]

Thank you Nimco for sharing your story. You are a beacon of light and I hope you live the rest of your life in a peaceful and loving environment and are never harmed again. XOX From Ireland

[Kootenay]

In my country FGM is illegal but male genital mutilation is not. They should both be outlawed.

[sandrahenriques]

A mother that allows this to happen to her children is not a mother but a monster. I will never ever speak to my family again.

[pokemoncardswithmatthewand]

What a formidable woman! I have many friends from different parts of Africa, Caribbean etc, both men and woman, and the disgust of this is SO high and it should have never been made a thing.
Sadly, like terrorism it’s the minority and not the majority, this is a disgrace.
I’m so glad she is alive and well as sadly many never survive this act.
Glad she’s speaking out against such horrific crimes.

[Kadianblog]

Wow this brung me to tears, her power and who she is. I’m so proud of her and I don’t even know her but she broke that generational curse. Your mother and grandma raised you with that gift to do so and the fact you can see that in your healing is so powerful. You are amazing and well done to you

[ginamills]

It’s a very important issue. Not many know about it. I learned of it many years ago & have tried to support stopping it however I’m able. (Ie. Reading, donating, signing petitions, etc.)

[MosaicMama]

You’re such a warrior! Thank you for sharing ❤

[budweiserthedog]

A person I know very well told me she went to see a doctor in east London about a gynaecological problem and the female doctor abused her verbally about her genitalia and suggested she needed to be rid of what was there.
I was shocked to think a doctor was humiliating her and suggesting she needed to be changed.

[tammyinsull]

Grace and compassion! I am with you. ❤

[budweiserthedog]

You are so brave to get through this. Blessings to you ❤

[laganas]

I didn't know the number was so high. How sad. ❤

[telegrphavenuetv]

People need to accept that God didn't make mistakes....what they think should be removed are features not bugs. We are intelligently designed

[jeanneromaine]

Listen well young lady to your own words. You keep repeating them. You knew it WAS WRONG. Then so did your MOTHER! Wake up. Don't try to tell other women that your mother couldn't stop it. We mother's know the truth; yes she could have stopped it.

[TaharkahX]

It's totally legal in the United States.

[juliej]

I went to an all female college attended by women from all corners of the world. Most of my classes involved difficult conversations. No conversation was taboo, no conversation was forbidden. Racism, slavery and the slave trade, native peoples and history, globalism and global issues, colonialism. AND the horrors the US has committed here and around the world. I sat next to a young woman whose father was president of a country. FGM is known about, talked about and is part of the fight for women and our freedom, bodily autonomy, and equality. Nimco is an amazingly brave and beautiful woman. We in the US are fighting for our bodily autonomy right now in the coming election. #KAMALA2024

[fruzsinadocs]

I don't understand why she says that this is a global problem? We don't do it in the UK, they don't do it in Europe, it is at specific areas of the world that this cruel act is being done...

[SeanSoraghan]

That's horrific. But why isn't the feminist community calling this out ?

[mohamed]

Aan ku qabto hadaan kaa goyn waayo kintirka iyo labada faruuryoodba