THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (2023)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all the procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or another injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It has existed for more than 2,000 years and is performed on girls from birth, up to just before marriage and sometimes beyond.

It is now recognised internationally as a violation of human rights, health and integrity of girls and women. Everyone has a right to be free, it is that freedom we advocate for through empowering women and raising awareness. We are promoting/ safeguarding their well-being.

The 4 types of FGM

1. Cut of the skin, with or without excision of part or the entire clitoris.

2. Cut the clitoris with the partial or total cut of the small lips.

3. Cut off part or all of the genital parts and stitching/ narrowing of the vaginal opening. This type is most common in Somalia and Sudan

4. Unclassified - includes pricking or incising of the clitoris or lips, burning of the clitoris or introduction of aggressive substances or herbs into the vagina. Sometimes the clitoris is burned rather than incised.

FGM health risks and implications include:

The limbs could be broken because they are forced to restrain, No healing, Wound abscess, Urine infection, Backache, Birth complications, HIV / AIDS hepatitis

B and C, Painful sex, Mental health, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, Death, and more mental and physical complications

An estimated 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM and an estimated 4 million are at risk of being forced to undergo the procedure every year. It is concentrated in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and is the most prevalent in the Horn of Africa.

The reasons why FGM is performed vary from one region to another as well as over time and include a mix of sociocultural factors within families and communities. Where FGM is a social convention, the social pressure to conform, and to be accepted socially, and the fear of being rejected by the community are

By Chloe Jones

strong motivations for the practice.

FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. This can include controlling her sexually to promote premarital virginity and marital fidelity. Some people believe the practice has religious support, although no religious scripts prescribe the practice. Religious leaders take varying positions about FGM with some contributing to its abandonment.

The practice has no health benefits and it is an illegal practice in the UK since 1985- a sentence of 15 years plus a severe fine if found guilty. In addition to the FGM Act 2003, the Serious Crime Act 2015, also introduced some extra protections for girls and women including; FGM protection order, they can go to court to apply for an order which is a document that says what should happen to protect a girl at risk. For example, it could include restricting travel if the judge feels like going abroad could put a girl at risk. It is an offence to breach the order.

Partnership with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender norms to end FGM. This year UNFPA and UNICEF call on the global community to partner with men and boys and foster their engagement to accelerate the elimination of this harmful practice and uplift the voices of women and girls.

Engaging boys and men to end female genital mutilation consists of

• Changing attitudes to challenge norms

• Inspiring boys and men to speak out

• Female genital mutilation is upheld by social pressure, and changing attitudes is an important step towards abandonment. A significant portion of women who have undergone female genital mutilation are expressing willingness to abandon the practice.

• Though FGM is often understood as a patriarchal norm oppressive to girls it is not upheld by men alone. A total of the 300 million boys and men living in practising countries in Africa and the Middle East, 200 million think FGM should stop.

• Fathers can play an important role as agents of change, they must actively advocate FGM Zero tolerance.

National FGM helpline: 08000283550

SPRING EQUINOX By

Spring Equinox otherwise known as The Vernal Equinox signifies the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The word equinox comes from the Latin ‘aequus’ meaning equal and ‘nox’ meaning night. An appropriate name to describe the turning of spring as the days become equally light as they are dark. The spring equinox falls on March 20th or 21st each year.

An equinox occurs at the moment when the Earth’s axis doesn’t tilt towards or away from the sun. September 22nd or 23rd marks the Autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere.

Solstice vs Equinox

Summer solstice is on June 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when the sun is farthest north of the equator; It’s the longest day of the year.

Winter solstice is December 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere. The shortest day of the year. “Solstice” comes from the Latin word “solstitium” meaning “stopped sun”.

Spring Equinox Traditions

At the ruins of Chichen Itcha, in the ancient city of Maya, Mexico, crowds gather to witness the moving afternoon sun, which creates shadows resembling a serpent, slithering along the stairs of the 79-foot tall Pyramid of Kukulkan. On the spring equinox, the snake descends the pyramid until it merges with a large serpent head sculpture at the base of the structure. It is unknown whether they designed the pyramid to align with the equinox to create this visual effect.

At Stonehenge, druids and pagans congregate at the prehistoric monument in England to watch the sunrise.

The Spiritual Significance of Spring Equinox

In the yogic tradition, an equinox is seen as the day to set intentions and put energy into manifestations for the coming season. Life is awakening, trees are blooming, and there is more light and warmth. As the universe moves with you through this awakening period, you have the strength to achieve your intentions and manifest what you wish. The

Chloe Jones

meaning of equinox is equal darkness, you can take this figuratively as well as metaphorically, feeling even masculinity and femininity, light and darkness, happiness and sadness. A day where things are on a perfectly even keel, a day to transcend limitations of restrictive aspects of yourself.

Sadhguru quotes that ‘’prejudice arises in our minds because we are overly identified with something. So equinox is a day to bring balance to this”

I find this statement to be controversial, perhaps it is easier for Sadhguru to reach this equal state from his privileged position of being a man and never experiencing life as a woman within a patriarchal society, a system which benefits men and disadvantages women, And perhaps it is easier for me to reach this state from some of my privileged positions. However, to just consider this a state of meditation, removing yourself from the things you heavily identify with may help experience a feeling of equity allowing room for your mind to manifest what you wish for in life and truly believing in your capability.

The way in which I celebrate spring equinox

On the day of the spring equinox, I meet with my sister. We surround ourselves with things that symbolise the beginning of life, eggs, sprouting herbs, potted plants, wild running water, blooming trees, and candles. We write poetry together and think of all the things we are grateful for.

We think of things we wish to shed, to make room for the things we wish to manifest. Often mine will be to do with shedding insecurities and judgement to make room for self-love, acceptance and trust. We spend all day outside around nature, lighting candles for warmth.

Consider what the elements do for our well-being. The earth grounds us and allows us to feel rooted somewhere. Water allows us to process, flush out our emotions and move freely emotionally. Fire gives us warmth and light, energy and passion. Air allows us to breathe, and appreciate space and growth. I will spend the day practising radical self-love, considering what to let go of. I want to feel grounded and loved and I wish the same for you.

The Cost Of Living Crisis And What It Could Mean For You

Get up to speed on the financial struggles being faced by households across the nation…

The initial cost of living has been quickly increasing across the United Kingdom since the early months of 2021, following the economic stumble that Covid-19 had left upon our nation. The annual inflation rate reached 11.1% – a 41-year peak – before decreasing to 10.7% in November 2022, which is still alarmingly high. This ultimately caused an increase in the cost of the household items which we use every day.

According to government research and estimates, the percentage is meant to decrease by 2% by 2024, which is great but not enough. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a knock-on effect on the price of gas and electric, water and fuel, which are all skyrocketing and putting strain on our pockets here in the UK.

The economy is struggling, and it is gradually getting more and more difficult for smaller businesses as it is

By Tristan Best

becoming extremely difficult to trade with Europe. As a direct result of this, the economy is less resilient, less productive, less flexible and less responsive to the global market.

In GDP growth, the UK has fallen behind other countries such as Germany, Japan, USA and Canada, and the USA’s rate is positively soaring above us at the time of writing. Another unfortunate consequence of all of this is that more people are at risk of homelessness, with rates increasing, and more and more jobs becoming insufficient to fund the needs of the general public.

This level of stress and anxiety is also having an affect on people’s mental health, and their physical health may also be impacted by a change in diet or the need to take on longer shifts. The latter also inevitably takes the time out of their social lives – a night out and a meal, now off the cards for many.

NHS INJECTS £975M P/A TO MENTAL HEALTH

By Chloe Jones

The NHS long-term plan is to transform community mental health, putting an extra £975 million per year into this plan by 2024. The aim is to help 37000 people/patients who suffer severely from mental health, (psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder, severe depression, rehabilitation needs) by making primary and community health care available, designed to improve patient’s experiences and outcomes on their journey to better mental health.

It is not always just a diagnosis people want or need, mental health services that go beyond their diagnosis are crucial for many. To feel seen and heard as a person rather than an illness/diagnosis. This promising integration will bring togetherness to work towards helping someone’s overall well-being.

It is societal pressure and expectation to be labelled with an understood diagnosis, but the complexities of being human go so much further than a label and an individual’s well-being should be tailored to their issue, not dismissed and treated with a one-size fits all approach.

Each illness has its own eligibility criteria, processes and data systems meaning people severely suffering do not always get the support they need or that makes a difference. every walk of life, empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to spot abuse in relationships and support their friends.

This NHS long-term plan is also an acknowledgement, validating many people’s anxieties surrounding community and professional services. It is clear that the long waiting times and long-winded admin can create a risk of people giving up on the system as it feels out of their hands.

It can be expected from the integrated model that holistic and people-centred care is a priority. Integration of physical and mental health, the integration of primary and secondary care and the integration of social and health care for people with long-term needs or specific concerns will receive fast access to highquality care. It marks a significant cultural shift.

A holistic and community-based offer with personalised and trauma-informed care. It also aims to meet people’s social needs which are known to significantly impact somebody’s difficulties. The new model is inclusive and proactively ensures people’s individual needs are met.

Your Best Friend aims to give 10,000 and ultimately over one million other young people the knowledge, confidence, and tools to keep themselves and their friends safe in their ultimate relationships.

#FriendsCanTell is the Campaign that aims to denormalize the controlling behavior that hundreds of young people told us is so common that they consider it normal. The campaign is across social media such as Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, films, and podcasts.

This Campaign we did for your best friend #FriendsCanTell was for eight weeks. The topics we focused on were: Core Values; Being a positive bystander; Rights in Relationships; Gender Stereotypes. Listening, communicating, & understanding; Principles of a healthy relationship; Principles of Sexual Relationships & Sexual Content Online.

Life Of Service

Grace is one of the great community ambassadors of our time. Ever since I met Grace, I became curious to know more about her life’s journey and then persuaded her to be our cover girl and share it with our esteemed communities to get the inspiring effect that I got. I thank Grace for remaining so committed to our communities in being the change she has always sought. Inspiring, and supporting others to do the same hence the empowered grassroots communities. Below, Grace wrote about her life’s journey of service.

By Grace Powell

of staff members dealing with racial discrimination, harassment and unfair practice.

Basingstoke Community Work

One day whilst at work my manager said to me that Basingstoke Borough Council require a representative for their Diversity group: “As you are always busy with church and the community, I am sending you.” This was the beginning of my new and different role. The community had a new meaning. I very quickly learnt that there were over twenty different minority groups in the Borough. Previously I was an active member of the United Caribbean Association, which sadly had been closed down when the building was demolished for redevelopment.

I was elected as the first chair of the Diversity Group which later became Basingstoke Multicultural Forum, a registered charity. It was an opportunity for people of colour to unify together and stand as one rather than continue the divide-and-rule game. When we are united, we become strong, and our voices are heard. Basingstoke Caribbean Society and Friends for over 16 years were part of the Basingstoke Multicultural Forum (BMF).

Black History Month and Windrush

Background

Born in Jamaica I joined my parents in England in 1960. Primary school and secondary education provided me with no cultural or historical facts which represented my origin. I learnt about the Romans, the Ice Age, and the Tudors and Stuarts. It is no small wonder that I developed an interest in Africa and the slave trade. The stories of the Vikings whilst interesting gave me no idea of who I was and I was baffled by the constant teasing at school regarding what banana boat I travelled in, especially as I travelled by BOAC airplane. From an early age, my grandmother taught me to pray and read my Bible. There was no deviation, no sideways turn. “Do unto others as you would they do to you”. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes will have eternal life”. These words from my beloved Mama (grandmother) shaped me into a life of service. To give without seeking reward.

Profession

I am a retired qualified Social Worker/Probation Officer, Trainer and Diversity Manager Working in Hampshire and Surrey. I was also active in the Association of Black Probation Officers (ABPO) as an Equal Rights representative, South Regional Convener, National Vice Chair and Chair for over 14 years working on behalf

Without a knowledge of your past, you cannot plan your future. I believe it is of paramount importance to know our cultural heritage. I am a proud woman of African descent, born in the Caribbean. October will always remain a significant month for history. It is important that our cultural heritage is taught to our youth and does not become lost, or we become negatively, integrated to the point of loss of identity.

I am pleased that we now have June 22 as National Windrush Day. To Celebrate, Educate and Empower. We were invited to the United Kingdom by the British Government as British Citizens in the Caribbean to come and help rebuild the UK after World War II and we have made significant contributions to NHS, Engineering, and various industries, through our resilience we endured and stayed.