Craftivists Tackle FGM
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2011-04-05 20:17:26 |
Knitting and sewing are no longer just about making something pretty. A new movement of women, calling themselves ‘craftivists’ (craft + activists) is growing around the world, and they’re taking on human rights issues.
One such group of activists is The Craftivist Collective. In 2007, Sarah Corbett, then calling herself ‘A Lonely Craftivist’, started creating pieces of craft in order to both voice her opinions on human rights issues and challenge other people’s views. She was approached by so many like-minded that in 2008 she founded The Craftivist Collective, whose manifesto is: “To expose the scandal of global poverty, and human rights injustices though the power of craft and public art. This will be done through provocative, non-violent creative actions.”
I discovered The Craftivist Collective two weeks ago at a meeting of the Shoreditch Sisterhood, an east London based branch of the Women’s Institute. Members of the Sisterhood have been collaborating with The Craftivist Collective to raise awareness about female genital mutilation (FGM). One woman proudly presented me with ‘The Vagina Patch’; a delicate arrangement of fabric on a cloth patch that represents the female genitals. Every patch made is going into a giant quilt, which will become an art installation that ‘breaks down taboos about this female organ, remind people how beautiful and unique they are and encourage people to openly challenge this practice (of mutilation)’.
Female genital mutilation is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as "all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons". It is estimated that well over 120 million women have been subjected to it worldwide. FGM is illegal in the UK, yet it is estimated that up to 24,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk, and are often taken outside of the country in order to undergo the procedure. According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office: “Girls are at particular risk of FGM during school summer holidays. This is the time when families may take their children abroad for the procedure. Many girls may not be aware that they may be at risk of undergoing FGM.”
More information can be found at:
craftivist-collective.com/
shoreditchsisters.blogspot.com/
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/when-things-go-wrong/fgm/
www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/25/female-circumcision-children-british-law
Vicky Simister is a columnist for The Fresh Outlook. She is a social entrepreneur. She is also currently Director of Anti Street Harassment UK and The Green Tax People, and Treasurer for UK Feminista.