This week, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation faces its busiest two weeks of the year. Their 5th #walk2endfgm will take place on Saturday, October 27th, and on Friday, the 26th is their Global Woman Awards. In collaboration with the Milken Institute for Public Health at George Washington University, the Global Woman Awards hope to further awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM), while they help to dispel myths and misconceptions of the practice of it. The theme this year is “Collaborating to Dispel the Myths and Misconceptions of FGM”.
In previous years, the Global Woman Awards candidates have travelled from Europe, the U.K. and parts beyond to Washington, D.C. However this year, the organization is expected to host the most international award candidates than in previous years.
Dr. Mawaheb El-Mouelhy, an Independent Consultant in Reproductive Health and Population in Cairo, Egypt has been nominated in the Medical / Health Category. She is expected to arrive in Washington next week Wednesday.
Hazel Barrett, a human geographer in the U.K. is nominated in the Education / Training Category. She and several other award candidates are expected next week Thursday.
Adriana Kaplan, a Professor of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology of the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona, and Principal Investigator of the Interdisciplinary Group for the Prevention and Study of Harmful Traditional Practices is an award candidate in the Advocacy Category.
Giselle Portenier, a journalist and human rights documentary filmmaker is in contention for an award in the Political Category. She will share the trailer to her most recent film, “In The Name of Your Daughter” next Friday.
The first female Member of Parliament for Rotherham, Sarah Champion is also nominated in the Political Category. She convened a group of ENDFGM lobbyists across Great Britain. Several years ago Sarah served as Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse and Domestic Violence.
Marie-Claire Kakpotia Moraldo, nominated in the Survivor Activist Category is expected from France. She holds a Master’s Degree in Commercial Management and Project Management from the Kedge Business School in Marseille, France. Lastly, Kameel Ahmady, a British-Iranian and expert writer in minority rights and Middle East affairs is nominated in the Literary Category.
Other Global Woman Awards candidates expected from various points in the U.S. are Pennsylvania Attorney, Ayodele Gansallo who has been practicing immigration and human rights law since 1992, both in the U.S. and in the U.K. She is a candidate for the Legal Category; Susan McLucas who has devoted years of her life towards ending the practice of FGM is a candidate for the Advocacy Category is expected from Massachusetts; Survivor Activist award candidate, Severina Lemachokoti is an anti-FGM campaigner. She will be traveling from Wichita, Kansas; Heather Sirocki, an American politician who has served in the Maine House of Representatives since 2010 from the 28th District is a candidate in the Political Category; Dr. Beryl Dorsett, a lifelong educator who has dedicated her life to global betterment through philanthropy. A distinguished educator, Dr. Dorsett was appointed Assistant Secretary of Education by President Ronald Reagan in February 1987, becoming the first female appointed to that office. She is nominated for the Person of the Year Category, and is expected from New York City.
There are also several local candidates from the Washington, D.C. Metro area, such as Dr. Karen McDonnell of the Milken Institute for Public Health at George Washington University. She is nominated for an award in the Education / Training Category; Dr. Ranit Mishori of Georgetown University is a candidate for the Medical / Health Category; and Barbara Nowak of the Alexandria Public Schools is also nominated in the Education / Training Category.
In 2015, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation decided to show recognition, respect and appreciation to people who dedicate their time to the campaign against FGM, and other injustices against women and girls. They felt by showing recognition would also serve as an inspiration for individuals to become more involved in the work toward ending FGM and other injustices against women and girls. Therefore in October 2015 the organization recognized their first group of award recipients, including Martha Leslie Allen, Shelby Quast, Aissata Camara, Dr. Marci Bowers, Jaha Dukureh, F.A. Cole and others for their dedicated work. The recognition gesture became an annual culture for Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation.
In 2016 the organization awarded the first man, Artist Godfrey Williams-Okorodus for using his art work to advocate against FGM. In the same year, the Global Woman Awards recognized the first Student Ambassador, Amani DeShield for introducing the campaign against FGM to her Middle School in Hagerstown, Maryland in the U.S. This category of Student Ambassador was created to encourage students and young people to become involved in the campaign against FGM, while raising awareness among their peers. The second man, Virginia State Senator Richard H. Black was recognized in 2017 for his diligence in putting forth legislation to have FGM criminalized in his state. This year, several men, such as Dexter Dias, Bafing Kul, Tony Mwebia, David Indeje and Kameel Ahmady are nominated in the Literary, Media and Advocacy Categories.
The Mistress of Ceremony for the evening is Ashley Nicole Johnson, a dynamic and energetic public relations and marketing professional. She is recognized as one of “The Top 25 African American PR Millennials to Watch” by The Huffington Post. A Public Relations graduate from Howard University’s School of Communication and Georgetown University, Ashley is the CEO and Publicist of ANJPR Consulting, LLC, a public relations agency specializing in entertainment, lifestyle and non-profit organizations.
Presenting the awards in each category are advocates, activists and people who are involved in the campaign against FGM in various ways. They are from the medical, legal, non-profit, private, and political sectors. In presenting the award nominees and winners, the message from the presenters will have an educational angle, in conjunction with dispelling the myths and misconceptions of FGM.
A silent auction is part of the Friday evening program, with donated items from the Kennedy Center; Thailand’s Norwa Jeweler, donated and shipped all the way from Bangkok; the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and an original painting from the Browne Art Studio in Richmond. All proceeds from the silent auction will support the survivors of FGM with whom Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation works and supports.
Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation hopes you will join them in the 2-day event, starting Friday, the 26th with the Global Woman Awards, and then Saturday the 27th on the National Mall to participate in the #walk2endfgm.
Comments and questions to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call (703) 818-3787
