WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation hosted its first "Walk to End FGM (female genital mutilation),Saturday on the Washington National Mall.
Partners and supporters took part in the first walk early Saturday morning. This was the first walkathon ever held in D.C. against the practice of female genital mutilation.
A total of 14 teams of walkers took part in the walk and made their way up Constitution Avenue toward the memorials of World War II, Vietnam Veteran, Lincoln, Korean War, Martin Luther King and the Washington Monument. The walkers finished at the National Mall where speakers shared messages about the practice to the participants.
Some speakers included CEO and President of IMA World Health, Rick Santos, Dr. Martha Allen, the Director of Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press and David Rawls, the In-Country Director of Hope 2 Liberia.
Walkers came from the District metro area, but also from as far as Canada, Florida, Arizona and Indiana, according to a press release from the foundation.
UniteWomen.org's Board Member, Shannon Fisher told participants,"Female genital mutilation has been illegal in the United States since 1996, and transporting girls out of the U.S. for FGM is now punishable by five years in jail. But the procedure is still performed in private, and it has gone largely underground."
Summer Pearson, Global Woman's Board Member left the walkers with a message from the President and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women, "It is said that the civilization of a nation is determined by the way it treats its women and its children. By that measure, most nations have a long way to go to be considered civilized. Certainly no nation that permits mutilation of the genitals of its young girls can be called civilized. This is one of the worst forms of violence against women."
The President of Change Agent Network, Annie Wright also shared her story with the participants. Wright's mother died in childbirth because of FGM. Wright is a victim of FGM and was taken to the 'bush' and mutilated when she was only seven-years-old.
"I can stand here today and say that I am a survivor of FGM. I was told never to tell anyone, and I never told anyone until Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation invited me to their focus group meeting," said Wright.
In addition to the speakers, entertainment was provided by local groups including the Liturgical Dance Group and the Chosen Generation Dance Group.
The president of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, Angela Peabody left the participants with the following words from a Liberian FGM survivor: "America, do you want to be labeled as the nation that stood by and watched countless little girls get mutilated or die simply because it doesn't affect you directly? You lead the free world; make it freer for little girls and women in Africa and other parts of the world actively practicing FGM."
Peabody also announced that the Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press raised the most amount of money for the walk, according to the press release.
The proceeds raised from the event will go toward a special support center in the District metro area, which is expected to open next year. The center will have a hotline with trained phone counselors, career assistance and a capacity building for victims of FGM.
FGM is any procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or any injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, according to the World Health Organization. To learn more about the practice visit: http://bit.ly/NbKzmv
To learn more about Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation and future events or to make a donation, visit www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.org.
