Ten Year Old Girl Dies from FGM
9/17/2008
V-Report from Kenya: 10 Year Old Girl Dies from FGM
V-Day supporter Kim Rosen was recently working at the V-Day Safe House in Narok Kenya, and sent us this first hand report of tragic death that we wanted to share with you. V-Day is committed to continuing to work to end Female Genital Mutilation. This story reminds us all that there is more work to be done.
On August 18, in the tiny village of Narosura in the Rift Valley, a 10 year-old girl died from Female Genital Mutilation. At 5 that morning she was cut. By 10, she had bled to death.
Her family wrapped the body in a sheet and secretly buried it a few yards from their huts. By that afternoon, there was no evidence of the crime.
If it were not for the network of conscience that Agnes Pareyio has woven into the Maasai community, this child's death would have gone unnoticed. But an anonymous "informer" called her on the morning of the ceremony, in time for her to send one of her collaborators and an officer of the law to the hasty funeral.
As a result, for the first time in Maasai history, a circumciser has been arrested.
This child's death is reminder that the work is far from done. Girls are still being cut in the Rift Valley and many other places in the world. Some are dying. All are scarred for life. Agnes Pareyio is one of the leading activists of the V-Day movement. Please join us in continuing to support her work to change the fate of Maasai girls and stop FGM worldwide.
Click here for a full report >
Click here to support the V-Day Safe House in Narok, Kenya >
The Vagina Monologues Reaches Its 5000th Performance in Mexico City, Raising Awareness of Violence Against Women in Juarez at Every Show
September 1 marked the 5000th performance of The Vagina Monologues in Mexico City, Mexico. The production of the play has raised awareness and funds for the missing and murdered women of Juarez Mexico since its beginning. The evening, which took place at Jardin Versal, featured performance by 30 well known Mexican actresses and received extensive media coverage, reaching thousands through television, radio and local and national newspapers bringing the issue of violence against women and girls and the missing and murdered women of Juarez Mexico to the public eye. The following statement was read at the performance, inciting the sold-out crowed to chant "No Uno Mas!" (Not One More!) at the conclusion of the evening.
Today marks the 5000th performance of The Vagina Monologues in Mexico City. One million Mexican moans! I am more than proud of this and praise you with all my heart for all you have done to make this possible. This production, the directors, the producers, and the greatest actors have spread vagina magic and empowerment throughout Mexico and the world. They have raised lots of money for the women of Juarez and kept their struggle in the public eye. Unfortunately, the murders and brutality continue. Tonight, as we call for five thousand more performances, we call for five thousand times the energy and commitment, and we urge the government and powers that be to respect and protect our sisters in Juarez and end the atrocities now.
Eve Ensler
In the last 14 years, over 400 women and girls have been killed or disappeared in Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. Many of the victims were raped, mutilated and tortured. One of the victims was a six-year-old girl. Despite the fact that these murders have persisted, there has not been significant progress in providing protection to the women of Juarez or in bringing the perpetrators to justice. In 2004 V-Day's annual Spotlight Campaign focused on the Missing and Murdered Women of Juarez bringing the issue to thousands of women and men all over the world.
Update from V-Day Sponsored Events in Democratic Republic of Congo
Eve is currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo, look out updates from the trip in the next V-Mail!