For the past four years, SI Tenby and District have been campaigning to highlight the inhuman practice of FGM through their ongoing 'Awareness Campaign'. To date they have spent over 2,800 letters to all the members of the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, the Dail, Eire, the British members of the European Parliament, the Chief Constables of the Welsh Police Forces, women's and men's organisations in Pembrokeshire and the heads of the different religions and faiths. They have been delighted with the responses they have received and the pledging of support and good wishes for the success of the campaign. The most recent replies from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Church in Wales and the Catholic Archbishop of Wales have all stated that the view of their faith is for eradication of the practice, which they regard as against the human rights of all female children, girls and women. Articles about the Tenby campaign have appeared in their own Soroptimist magazines, a power point presentation was done at the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Conference in 2006, and the project was recognised at the SI Worldwide Convention held in Glasgow on July 23 which was attended by HRH Princess Anne. However, the feather in their cap was to hear that an article they had been asked to write for an SI publication, had been presented in New York to the UN commission for the Status of Women. They have obtained two relevant Channel 5 News items which combined with their own work is being used for a presentation to local SI clubs, and their information pack has been requested from as far afield as New Zealand. A Bill was passed in 2003 (Ann Clwyd was responsible for it) making the practice of or the assisting of FGM illegal, but to date there have been no prosecutions. Last month, the Metropolitan Police offered a £20,000 reward for information of knowledge on any person committing the act. Tenby is a small club in a rural area, but like Soroptimist clubs across the world, they are continually working for the betterment of women less fortunate than themselves, while at the same time supporting their own local communities. The work done by the organisation is truly outstanding and mainly done very quietly out of the eye of the public. The Tenby members are indeed proud to be part of it all. If anyone is interested in the campaign, the Tenby club would be delighted to hear from you.
