Senator Harry Reid introduces our FGM bill to the Senate bill S 1919 to strengthen our HR 2221 girls protection act of 2011, after a great call from his DC office I am happy that good men exist and are ready to fight for women's right. Ambassador Mashua,

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would make it a crime under U.S. law to take young girls out of the U.S. for the purpose of genital mutilation.

Reid's bill, the Girls' Protection Act, follows up on the successful passage of another Reid bill in 1996 that criminalizes this procedure in the U.S. on girls under the age of 18. But he said that law has what he called a "vacation loophole" that allows female genital mutilation, or FGM, to take place on U.S. girls when they are out of the country.

"While it is difficult to know precisely how many girls in the United States are at risk of being subject to FGM, estimates from various sources suggest that approximately 200,000 women living in the United States have been, or are at risk, of being subject to FGM," Reid said Tuesday. "Enactment of the Girls' Protection Act would help to better protect these girls by serving as a deterrent for those parents who are considering sending their young girls to their home countries to undergo FGM."
Under his bill, S. 1919, transporting women or girls for that purpose would leave them open to fines and up to five years in prison.
Female genital mutilation is recognized around the world as a human-rights violation that nonetheless has been carried out on an estimated 100 million to 140 million girls and women. Reid called the procedure a "harmful cultural ritual with origins in Africa, Asia and the Middle East," and said it has no medical justification.

Reid said estimates from several sources indicate that over 200,000 women and girls in the U.S. are or have been at risk of FGM.
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Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
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After my plea and hope Kenyan government to arrest mutilators and their helpers/parents they finally did, but the angry villagers and mutilators did not make it easy,they were forced to FIRE IN THE AIR, FOR US FGM ACTIVISTS WE DON'T HAVE GUNS JUST GUTS YOU CAN IMAGINE AN ANGRY MOB CRYING FOR YOUR BLOOD!! Ambassador Mashua

Police in Kuria West District were forced to shot several times in the air to disperse angry villagers who wanted to block them from arresting a MUTILATOR in Mabera division.The rowdy villagers, had stormed the district officer's office to protest at the arrest of the woman and her aide. The two had been arrested along the Isibania -Migori highway while dancing with villagers and two girls whose genitals they had just mutilated.It is very sad that the two girls were already mutilated:(( but it shows great step by the Kenya police to even protect the mutilated girls, on the other hand who told this angry sympathizers of mutilators they can storm at a local police station and demand the release of this two blood suckers? . KENYA POLICE AND THE SKEPTICS NOW YOU CAN SEE THE DANGER WE TRED ON AS ANTI FGM ACTIVISTS AND RESCUERS , SOME HAVE BEEN KILLED, SOME FORCED TO FLEA THE ONLY HOME THEY KNEW AND LOVED:(, SOME HAVE BEEN RAPED, BURNT JUST AS A LEASON,SOME LIVE EVERYDAY WITH THREATS AND A PRICE ON THEIR HEAD:((. IF VILLAGERS COULD STORM A POLICE STATION WHAT CAN THEY DO TO A RESCUE CENTER OR AN ANT FGM ACTIVIST HOME? YOU DO THE MATH.
ON THE OTHER HAND AS THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE GIRLS AND DO SOME SERIOUS ARRESTS TO WHOEVER TRIES,THINKS,DREAMS TO MUTILATE GIRLS. MY EYES ARE ON YOU AND THE WORLD IS WATCHING WITH ME.GIRLS DESERVE EDUCATION AND A BETTER LIFE!

EDUCATION TO ALL GIRLS IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Over 200 girls have run away and camping in Kuria district Kenya asking the government to save them from FGM. I expect the government of Kenya to save every single girl in Kenya!

Following FGM cases going on in Kuria District whereby young girls are taken for the mutilation in the month of December annually, more than 200 young girls are camping in Ikerege village at a rescue camp fearing forced female genital mutilation. Speaking to press at the center, the girls said the Government must now come out strongly and save them from this culture. But according to one of the Kuria elders, men should not be blamed over FGM but the girls must blame their mothers who take them for the procedure.(ooh yeah that is "right" who are you kidding?)
This girls should be taught and believe it is their human rights not to be mutilated!!!
PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Kenyan government walk the talk and give a 100% protection to the girls this MUTILATING (FGM )SEASON! AND EARLY MARRIAGES,We want to see some serious jail terms for all the crooks and pedophiles !! Ambassador Mashua

According to a reliable source and an article, most of the mutilation are executed deep in the night which has been an obstacle to the fight against FGM. And most girls are forced to marry after undergoing FGM.
December holiday when such ceremonies are rampant. With the passing of Bill in April this year, Kenya joined other African countries prohibiting FGM.
The bill provides that any one found practicing FGM and convicted will be sent to jail for seven years or fined 500,000 shillings. (5,250$)!! Anyone who causes death in the process of carrying out FGM will be liable to life imprisonment.Those convicted of aiding, abetting or carrying out FGM will be liable to imprisonment for a term between three and seven years or a fine of between 100,000 shillings and 500,000 shillings (5,250$). Kenyan government it is time you walk the talk we want to see some serious jail time for the crooks and also life imprisonment especially to all the crooks, handlers and helpers involved in the mutilation murder of the 16 years old girl who bleed to death few weeks ago in POKOT!!! We are watching and we are on to you!! And every girl that will be mutilated we will count at least 3 crooks jailed so 1 for 3!! meanwhile we will continue rescuing girls because its still so clear they are not safe!!! Do your job and keep the children safe!!

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Hundreds of girls are escaping FGM and crossing the boarders from Kenya, this girls are at risk of human traffic as they are running to anywhere and into anyone, please donate to help keep girls safe .

Hundreds of girls are believed to have crossed over to neighbouring Tanzania for fear of being forced to undergo female genital mutilation.

According to residents in Kuria, hundreds of girls, some as young as ten years old, have fled their homes to avoid the traditional rite which is scheduled for December among the Abagumbe clan.

The girls are reported to have escaped within a period of one week to avoid forced female genital mutilation (FGM).

Mr John Gichoro, a resident of Nyabohanse village, said that preparations for the cultural celebrations were already ongoing even as the Government issued a stern warning that it would arrest and prosecute any parent or guardian subjecting children to the backward practice.

Speaking in the area, Nyanza PC Mr Francis Mutie who toured the region last week described the rite as retrogressive and asked the community’s leaders to find alternative ways of ushering their children to adult-hood.

"This is something that has to change as it denies our girls a chance to lead a normal life," he said adding that researchers have confirmed the practice has no benefit to the girls or the community.

There have been reports of some parents believed to be faking their daughters’ disappearance to enable them mutilate them secretly in their homes.(holding them hostages in their own home)

A number of organsiations fighting the vice in the region have been urged to establish secluded camps where girls would be trained on alternative rites of passage.

Kuria west district children’s officer John Langat said his office in collaboration with a number of NGOs the police, the provincial administration and churches, had taken the necessary measures to protect girls from being forced to face the knife.

"We are aware of those planning to launch this rite within the abagumbe clan but we are not going to allow them infringe the rights of their daughters this time round," Mr Langat warned.

The Kuria community has four clans, which practice the outlawed rite of passage in liaison with their kin in Tanzania.

This is also an opportunity for human traffickers to get this girls, believe me many disappear for good:(((. please donate today to Mashua voice for the voiceless international.inc a tax deductible for a donation of 10 or more we send a personalized post card to a girl rescued, we can also send you a bumper sticker or a button. in that way we give shelter to the girls as we have families who are ready to take them in, on the right side of our blog you will see a donate button, I have rescued girls every year with the help f foot soldiers on the ground using my own money but this time around for the first time I am asking for your financial support.

Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Mashua voice for the voiceless.com: Why in the world some people who have no clue abou...

Mashua voice for the voiceless.com: Why in the world some people who have no clue abou...: Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have la...

Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have laws that protect girls from FGM?

Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have laws that protect girls from FGM?
It is so disappointing to have people who don't care what happens to other people who don't look like them, or different colours , FGM is declared as a human rights violation on girls and women because it's evil and for those of us survive it we know. Just because it didn't happen to you or your people it does not give you the right to interfere with our fight against it because we are fighting for other innocent girls and women at risk trying to save them not to undergo what we dreaded!!! so women haters or selfish people saving a girl or protecting a girl who does not look like yours or speak your language from mutilation is it SEXIST? When a girl is mutilated at any age that makes them viable for childhood marriage to older men, if girls are not mutilated they don't get married off and so if we can stop FGM we are stopping rape( childhood marriage) and sexual slavery. I have heard enough selfish egoistic characters wining because I am fighting hard with other survivors around the world to get tougher laws on FGM and you call me a "SEXIST"? and our HR 2221 GIRLS PROTECTION ACT OF 2011 a "SEXIST" bill? are you out of your mind? do you know how it feels to be held down, gagged on a tree then with no warning your genitals are chopped off ,then you are sew shut together?, all this time you are screaming and no one is there to help?,then your legs are bound together for days and you can't urinate? do you have any idea? I DON'T THINK SO! Because if you had any you will never accuse ANTI FGM activists or law makers as SEXIST!!! Leave us alone with our cause and mind your own business if you can't support us. Thank you US Congress for our HR 2221 Girls protection act of 2011 this will rescue over 280,000 American -immigrant girls at risk thank you to all of you who have Cosponsored and I believe it will be in the Senate soon and next year it will be inacted into law , thank you so much MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

"THIS IS MY VOW I LUCY SEMEIYAN MASHUA WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVIST FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND UNTIL FGM IS HISTORY I WILL NOT STOP! BAD MOUTH ME, FIGHT ME, TRY TO BRING ME DOWN AND I WILL USE THAT ENERGY TO FORGE FORWARD:).

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

CEDAW NEED TO BE RATIFIED AND PRACTICED ENOUGH WITH EMPTY TALKS AND EXPENSES WHILE THE AFFECTED WOMEN CONTINUE TO SUFFER! Global Ambassador against FGM and standing for human rights Lucy Mashua

Thirty years after the adoption of CEDAW (United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), many women and girls still do not have equal opportunities to realise rights recognised by law. In most countries, women are denied the right to own property or inherit land. They face social exclusion, ‘honour killings’, FGM (female genital mutilation), trafficking, restricted mobility and early marriage, among others.
Women in Africa face dual legal systems wherein customary laws on inheritance, property ownership favour the men over the women and patriarchal traditions which consider men as heads of the family. Cultural marginalisation severely limits women’s education opportunities, which results in high illiteracy levels and a lack of qualifications and skills. These factors block women’s participation in politics, decision making and leadership positions. It is often notable that traditional and religious practices relegate women to traditional households roles.
Violence and discrimination against women are social epidemics and despite the progress made by women’s rights movements in identifying, raising awareness, and challenging impunity for women’s rights violations, serious discrimination continues to target women in Africa. In conflict-ridden areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ivory Coast, and Darfur region in Sudan, women are raped as a weapon of war with no impunity.
In the past years, there has been some encouraging progress regarding gender equality in Africa. Some states have made considerable advancements in protecting women from sexual violence and encouraging women to participate in politics and election. Most have gender policies or some kind of national women’s mechanism, such as a Ministry of Gender or Ministry of Women’s Affairs. There are aspects of gender equality in many constitutions and some countries have passed other laws on different aspects of women’s rights.
Despite growing numbers of women’s parliaments, women’s participation in politics is still far from adequate in Africa. However, according to the UN MDG’s (Millennium Development Goals) 2011 report, Sub Saharan Africa has registered an increase from 13 percent in 2000 to 20 percent in 2011, with North Africa also seeing a similar increase, with 3 percent in 2000 up to 12 percent in 2011.
There has been some recent progress regarding women’s political participation with Ethiopia, Madagascar and the United Republic of Tanzania recording improvements in 2010. Women’s representation in parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa is now higher than in South Asia, the Arab states or Eastern Europe. Rwanda has proven to be a regional leader in terms of gender main-streaming, access to legal aid and women’s political participation with 51% of females holding parliamentary seats; the highest in the world.
In April 2011, The president of Mali appointed Cisse Mariam Kaidama to be the country’s new prime minister. Kaidama is the first woman to take on the top job in Malian politics. In July 2011, Angola took a step forward for women’s rights by enacting a Law to criminalise domestic violence and offer protection and support to victims and their families. Kenya and Guinea-Bissau have become the latest countries to make genital mutilation illegal by passing a law prohibiting the practice, and Equatorial Guinea ratified the Maputo Protocol and so became the 31st country to do so.
Most African countries have ratified CEDAW (with the exception of Sudan and Somalia), and so far, 31 out of 53 countries have ratified the Maputo protocol with the latest being Equatorial Guinea. Last year the African Union declared 2010-2020 as African Women’s Decade. The theme of this year is “Health, Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS”. This decade is a promise from African governments and the African Union to promote women’s rights and achieve gender equality in Africa.
The African Women’s Decade is quite significant and unique. It officially puts women at the centre of every initiative or work that will be undertaken in Africa by the African Union, and its member states in the next 10 years. By placing women at the centre of it all, African women and girls will have an opportunity to flourish and become advocates and leaders. However, there is a need for African Governments to back up their commitments with actions. We need to empower African women and girls with the tools they need to become agents of change. In 10 years, we need to look back at the African Women’s Decade and be proud of what we have achieved as individuals and as a global community.
(Enough with the CEDAW talk move from talks to action, big conventions and meetings will alone in the cities will not solve women issues. you need to be involved on the ground with locals and activists from the community to get things done!)

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Mashua voice for the voiceless international.Inc supports Women in Somalia who are fighting the ban on FGM.

We support the women of Somalia and the activists, we know it is not going to be easy but keep on fighting,Women's groups in the Somali town of Galkayo are lobbying the authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland to enact a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the practice was becoming widespread. Activists say FGM causes serious health problems to the women and is against their religion.

"Unfortunately, we have noticed that instead of decreasing, the practice seems to be re-emerging, particularly in camps for the displaced,” said Lul Madar, head of the Mudug Women’s Development Network, one of the organizations pushing for the enactment of an anti-FGM law.

Madar said the increase in FGM seemed to correspond to an increase in the incidence of rape, particularly in internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps.

"We have many parents who believe that if the girl is mutilated, it will make it hard for the rapist; unfortunately, it won’t stop the rapist but will only add to the suffering of the woman,” she said.

Madar said women’s groups like hers were lobbying the Puntland authorities to pass a law criminalizing the practice, adding that although such a law may not stamp it out, “it will have a fear effect and can be used by activists to fight FGM.

Hawa Aden, executive director of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development (GECPD), a group that advocates for women's issues, told press the women were not only seeking a law but “also a religious fatwa [decree] proclaiming that FGM is Haram [illegal] under Islam.

“This will have an impact on the practice,” she said. “We must attack it on all fronts.”

Farhiya Jama, an anti-FGM activist, said she was determined to ensure that young girls did not undergo FGM. "I am 40 years old now and I still vividly remember when I was cut. It gives me nightmares.”

We want to tell these men that mutilation does not enhance or add to a girl's value as a wife and a mother but actually diminishes itJama said she suffered during childbirth and whenever she menstruates. "I dread the days when my period is close because of the pain I go through; it gets to the point where the pain makes it impossible to do anything. I don't want any girl to be subjected to this kind of suffering."

“Gudnin", or infibulation, as practised in Somalia, involves cutting off the external genitalia and sewing up the vagina, leaving a small hole for urine and menstruation.

Apart from the risks of severe blood loss, shock and infection, longer-term problems associated with FGM include infections of the urinary and reproductive tracts, infertility and a range of obstetric complications, such as postpartum haemorrhage and death of the baby, said Abdulkadir Jama Dhaga’ade, a gynaecologist-obstetrician and the director of Galkayo Medical Centre.

Dhaga’ade said FGM was one of the main contributing factors to the fistula cases he had been seeing. “It leads to prolonged labour and causes what is medically known as Uterine inertia.”

Convincing men

Madar of the Women’s Network said it was engaged in awareness campaigns targeting "not only the mothers and the girls but the men, particularly the young men of marriageable age, professionals and religious leaders. We want to tell these men that mutilation does not enhance or add to a girl's value as a wife and a mother but actually diminishes it."

The group is also taking its campaign to rural areas where the practice “is widespread”, she said.

Madar said convincing and winning the support of traditional elders and religious leaders was crucial to the group’s efforts.

"It is therefore very important to involve men, particularly religious leaders, in the campaign to eradicate FGM to debunk some of the myths that somehow the practice has a religious significance, or adds to the woman’s value," she said. .
Come on Somalia yes you can do this , Women and activists in Somalia I fully support you and yes attack it from all sides , Religion and culture there is no excuse for this atrocity!!

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415