A decade of difference:
Anti-FGM charity marks a milestone
28 Too Many, the charity founded by CMS mission partner Ann-Marie Wilson, is celebrating 10 years of working to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM).
Registered as a charity in 2012, 28 Too Many has compiled detailed country profiles for each of the 28 African countries where FGM is practised. Ann-Marie explained: “28 Too Many’s reports are used by DFID, the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office, as well as NGOs around the world.”
It is estimated that every year three million women continue to be at risk from FGM in countries where the practice is still considered the cultural norm. In 2020 Sudan introduced legislation outlawing the practice of FGM, a first step on the long road to societal change.
Ann-Marie remains hopeful: “Thank you to all the people who have supported us in this vision over the last 10 years. There is still a long way to go but together we can end FGM.”
Update: 28 Too Many joins Orchid Project
In April, 28 Too Many joined Orchid Project, an NGO catalysing the global movement to end FGM and working with grassroots organisations, sharing knowledge and best practice to accelerate change.
As part of this exciting step, Orchid Project will work closely with the network of researchers and consultants that have supported 28 Too Many’s work to date. The combined experience of the 28 Too Many team, particularly that of Dr Ann-Marie Wilson who has been at the forefront of ending FGM/C for over a decade, will help drive forward Orchid Project’s research and evidence function and shape the production of new country profiles and themed reports on FGM/C.
“We are delighted to welcome 28 Too Many and look forward to the next chapter for Orchid Project,” said Delphine Rive, interim-CEO of Orchid Project. “Our decision to join forces is driven by a shared vision of ending female genital mutilations/cutting (FGM/C) through community-led change and we are confident that with our combined expertise and networks, we will be better positioned to positively impact the lives of girls and women by enabling evidence creation and its effective use to accelerate an end to FGM/C.”
Commenting on 28 Too Many joining Orchid Project’s team, Ann-Marie said, “Over the last 12 years, 28 Too Many has worked in parallel with Orchid Project to embrace and drive forward ending FGM/C. We have been happy to work alongside Orchid Project in their endeavours over the last decade. We look forward to working together by joining forces to increase our collective impact in the space.”
