Our story
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Decades of campaigning
Awareness was raised for many decades by various global actors, survivors and fronline experts, building the base for activism work today.
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2013
A Channel 4 special documentary comes out ‘The Cruel Cut’ defining anti-FGM campaign in the UK.
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2014
UK Government co-hosts the first Girl Summit with UNICEF, aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end FGM and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation.
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2014
Europe's first anti-FGM billboard campaign launched in the UK
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2015
The Vavengers Co-founders Hoda Ali and Mabel Evans get together and form an unincorporated arts collective, supporting frontline movements through artistic convenings.
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2015...
BBC releases a Comic Relief special; Stop Cutting our Girls, with our Co-founder featured alongside Zawe Ashton. Awareness of FGM continues to rise in the UK.
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2016-17 and 18
Vavengers continues to build momentum in anti-FGM campaign through power of arts and survivor-leadership.
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2019
Following years of arts collective convenings and awareness campaigning, The Vavengers is incorporated as a registered charity in the UK.
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2020
The Vavengers provides critical frontline support to survivors of FGM during the global pandemic.
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2021
Series of short films released ‘What if you knew’ informing the members of the public on health issues facings, forming One Question Campaign.
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2022
Vavengers launches a landmark programme; holistic pop-up support & wellness hubs for survivors and starts informing the UK government on issues facing frontline and communities.
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2023
One Question Campaign officially launched at the House of Lords with campaign ambassador Sabrina Elba.
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2024
The Vavengers informs and trains policing, health and legal professionals and scales One Question Campaign on a national level while also continuing to provide frontline support.
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2024...
Vavengers opens HQ in London, a one-of-a-kind safe space in the UK for campaigners working on anti-Gender-Based Violence, racial & social justice and gender-equality. Vavengers is a go-to source for campaigner support through legal clinics, platforming, wellbeing and survivor-leadership programmes.
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2025
First-ever global health & legal landscape and economic cost reports are commissioned by Vavengers and launched at the United Nations during the 80th session of the General Assembly. Vavengers defines global gaps and existing policies through this landmark report.
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2026
Vavengers is a trusted voice in national and global forums and a reputable & critical partner for communities and survivors. Working in partnership with hundreds of organisations, law firms and institutions to create sustainable solutions to end FGM and intersecting violence.
Meet The Vavengers
Our team
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Sema Gornall
Chief Executive Officer
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Naimah Hassan
Co-Chair
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Rachel Cullen
Co-Chair
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Sara Samra
Trustee
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Sahrish Iftikhar
Trustee
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Tom Ingham Clark
Trustee
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Milosz Palej
Trustee
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Simma Gershenson
Director of Fundraising & Development
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Warda Mohamed
Head of Community
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Julia Martins
Book Club Host
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Dr. Leyla Hussein OBE
Advisory Board Member
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Payzee Mahmod
Advisory Board Member
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Anita Arora
Advisory Board Member
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Sabrina Elba
One Question Campaign Ambassador
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Tracy Ifeachor
Creative Ambassador
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Baroness Rosie Boycott
Patron
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Sir Max Hill KC
Patron
Meet some of our ambassadors and community partners
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Halimot Ogunnaike
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Warda Mohamed
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Huda Mohamed
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Valerie Lolomari
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Jocelyn Clarke
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Mama Sylla
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Deisy Carrillo
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Sarian Kamara
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Shamsa Sharawe
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Asma Haq
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Marisol Urbano
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Fatoumata Tunkara
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Vanessa Raimundo
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Jess Davies
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Nour Norris
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Faysal Curry

