Last updated by charlotte.lang@essex.gov.uk on Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Valerie spoke to the Trauma Ambassador Group at Healthwatch as a victim and survivor of FGM.  

‘As a victim of female genital mutilation, it was a horrific experience I can’t allow anyone to undergo. I struggled in silence with this as my thoughts and feelings were clouded with shame and loneliness for a very long time. I suffered a lot of trauma, not just the traumatic experiences but it also affected me in a lot of ways: emotionally, psychologically, mentally, and physically. I often say that female genital mutilation is “a life sentence that stays with you for the rest of your life” and it has affected me a lot.’

Read more from Valerie and listen to the podcast on the Healthwatch website.

Our FGM pages provide information for professionals to support victims of FGM in Essex.