Black History Month 2023: FORWARD film launched in celebration of 35+ years of milestones

In 1983, Efua Dorkenoo, known by many as the ‘mother of the global movement to end FGM’, founded FORWARD from her kitchen. This micro-level action soon inspired macro-level change. After breaking the silence around FGM and spearheading the campaign to criminalise the practice in the UK, FORWARD’s work prompted a domino effect in mobilising an ambitious community of women and young activists – committed not only to fighting FGM, but to also championing the rights and dignity of African women and girls at large around the world. Today, FORWARD remains as steadfast and committed as ever to bringing Efua’s vision of a safe, equal and FGM-free world to life through our various programmes and community engagement work.

Our new film, launched to aptly coincide with Black History Month, captures everything in between the then and now. It follows our 35+ year-long journey of galvanising change, embracing collaboration and inspiring the next generation. It demonstrates our pride in building a sisterhood that takes effective action to transform African women and girls’ lives, ending harmful practices and gender-based violence, and promoting sustainable equality. It marks our milestone achievements and proudest feminist moments, including legislative change on FGM and child marriage, establishing and supporting health services for FGM survivors, equipping child mothers in Africa with skills and confidence, training young women to run #EndVAWG projects, and promoting policy advocacy from grassroots to government – all of which serve as inspiring contributions to black herstory. Watch in full below or here on YouTube!

We unite, we nurture, we educate. Step FORWARD with us, and join us on the next part of our journey.

Special thanks go to our film producer Spirited Pictures and voiceover artist Justina Kehinde.