Liberal politicians and guests from five regions of the world came together in the parliament of the United Kingdom yesterday to honour the 2014 Liberal International Prize for Freedom laureate, Ms. Waris Dirie, who has brought global attention to the suffering inflicted by female genital mutilation (FGM).
Receiving the award at a special ceremony in the House of Lords, Ms. Dirie said:
This award is for all the women in the world who are like me and this award is for all those who don’t have a voice or opportunity to fight for their freedom.
A victim of FGM herself, the Somali-born campaigner added:
I am happy to be standing here today as it means we all recognise that there is a huge problem about FGM.
Commenting on the progress that the Liberal Democrats (LI full member – UK) have made in government in raising awareness of (and tackling) FGM, Minister for the Home Office, Lynne Featherstone, said: “Before the Coalition there were no referrals of FGM cases to the criminal system”.
This government remains determined to eradicate FGM so that no girl or woman has to endure the shocking physical and psychological effects of this terrible crime
Minister Featherstone added having presented the award with LI President Dr. Juli Minoves.
Ahead of the presentation, LI President Dr. Juli Minoves said
By giving Liberal International’s highest award to Waris Dirie, we want to make people aware that this gruesome practice of Female Genital Mutilation needs to be outlawed.
Representatives of LI member parties from 5 regions of the world – Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America – came together to be part of the awarding ceremony. Photographs of the event can be seen via the LI Facebook page and an overview of LI’s long-standing commitment to ending FGM can be seen here.
The awarding ceremony was kindly hosted by LI Past President Lord John Alderdice. LI would like to acknowledge the kind support of the International Office of the Liberal Democrats. The German Group of Liberal International (LI full member) originally nominated Ms. Dirie for the award in 2014.
– LI Prize for Freedom Laureate 2014, Ms. Waris Dirie, and international guests from LI member parties in the House of Lords.
