'Cut' by Hibo Wardere

This is the bravest I have ever read. As raw and brutal the title appears, this book’s warmth and emotion makes its story and message unforgettable.I picked it up hoping to find out more about the three letters that are appearing more and more in the media, but what I learnt went above and beyond my expectations. Not only is this an extremely courageous insight into one woman’s personal journey, but it is essential for anybody who wants to understand more about the origins, practice and prevention of FGM in certain cultures. And I think that ‘anybody’ should be ‘everybody’.

Hibo recounts her earliest and most vivid memories of growing up in Somalia and being surrounded by a culture of FGM, and how she came to be an activist fighting for the protection of young girls in Britain today. Not only has Hibo shown braveness in the writing of this book, but it is clear that every action in her life, from constantly probing her mother about the practice of FGM, to speaking out in the UK in the face of rejection and anger, have been underpinned by inimitable strength. Written like fiction, the constant cruel reminder that what we are reading is very much fact is what makes it so startling and powerful.

More than a personal account to spread awareness, Cut is an important document and call to action for people who work in social services, health and schooling, and indeed anyone who cares about child protection at large. It contains analysis of laws and enforcement, and talks about the obstacles and opportunities of managing and preventing future incidents in the UK.

When I was reading Cut I couldn’t help but tell everyone that I spoke to about it, and I think that is much of the point: we need to continue and strengthen the knowledge and conversation around FGM, and Hibo Wardere’s book will give you the emotional and practical balance that is required to begin to understand a topic of this complexity.