Hawa Mohamed Kamil is a young peer educator with the Elle&Elles network, which

promotes sexual and reproductive health and FGM abandonment in Djibouti.

Hawa is a 30-year-old peer educator who has been involved for almost 3 years in an

association working with the community to put an end to FGM.

Hawa was excised 40 days after birth, and underwent the most severe form of

female genital mutilation, infibulation.

From puberty onwards, the first physical consequences impacted Hawa’s daily life, and pain was her trigger. The psychological after-effects turned her life upside down, and the physical pain spurred her to action. FGM was her burden, but is now her

strength. Hawa raises her voice so that today, no other girl suffers her pain. Hawa

speaks for all women and girls who, like her, survive FGM.

With the skills acquired through the various training courses offered by the Elle&Elles

network with the support of UNFPA, Hawa has been trained as a community relay.

She is a community watchdog in her neighborhood, and organizes numerous

information sessions on FGM. She helps refer survivors of violence to care

structures, and provides them with psychological support in all aspects of their recovery.

“Today, I want to protect my sisters, my friends and all women. I want us to raise our

voices together so that none of our sisters suffer. I want to be heard and I’m raising

my voice for all those who don’t yet have the strength. My suffering has become my strength, and my strength is the strength of all women.”

Hawa Mohamed Kamil