DIRECT TALK(VISION VIBES)

Draft transcript

Alex Steullet / Host:

I'm Alex Steullet, and this is Vision Vibes. This story was originally broadcast on television as part of NHK WORLD-JAPAN's interview series Direct Talk.

A disclaimer before we begin: This episode contains depictions of violence against women. Listener discretion is advised.

Our lives are full of rituals, big and small. Whether it's religion, family, or even our little morning routine, rituals help give our lives structure. We imitate others to feel like we're part of a group; to feel safe.

Humankind has engaged in rituals since the beginning of history. Every culture and civilization has had its own. What we all have in common is that our rituals evolve to fit the times. We abandon the misguided and barbaric practices of the past to focus on better ways to strengthen our community.

Except sometimes, when a horrendous ritual slips through the cracks, and makes its way into the present. Often these malignant practices target the most vulnerable among us, and today's guest knows that all too well.

Waris Dirie is a survivor of female genital mutilation, or FGM. For the past 25 years, she has fought to end FGM throughout Africa and Asia.

What is Waris doing to achieve her goal of a world in which women and girls are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve? Let's join narrator Gene Otani and find out on today's episode of Vision Vibes.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Today's guest on Direct Talk is Waris Dirie. She has been calling for an end to female genital mutilation, or FGM, for 25 years. It's a practice that has been going on in the African continent and in Asia.

Waris Dirie:

What is the meaning of this?

Why do you need, why anybody need to do this to you?

Because you don't need it. And it's not. It's against God.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

More than 200 million women worldwide have gone through FGM. The procedure is life-threatening and ignores the basic rights of women that could leave deep emotional wounds.

Dirie has undergone FGM herself. She has joined forces with the United Nations to introduce laws against the practice globally.

She has also been working on establishing medical centers, supporting victims.

We ask Dirie more about how she is fighting genital mutilation, so that women everywhere can be liberated.

Waris Dirie:

FGM is female genital mutilation, is where they cut the girl or woman genitalia, the most sacred place they go and try to destroy it. Which is forbidden anyway.

And for the reason they do it is to limit the sexuality of a woman so she do not hang around, and do whatever freedom she choose to do or pleasure to do. It's just control, pure control for the, for the woman, what is the word, “diabolical [expletive]” you ever heard to do to any human being to even think about it.

Or the pain or child cry. I can't... I can't hear this damage for me. So, I thought maybe the world will jump when they see this.

Well, you know what push you? Anger, frustration at not understanding what the reason for what how you can do such abusive thing is okay? Is Okay!? No.

Sound of baby crying and screaming.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Female genital mutilation is thought to be performed as..... rites of passage intended to lead girls into adulthood.

A razor is often used in an unsanitary environment. Heavy bleeding sometimes leads to infections and even death.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution banning the practice, saying it was inhumane and leaves deep physical and emotional scars to women.

However, FGM still goes on in some places. Currently about 200 million victims exist. There are still regions where FGM is performed on over 90% of women.

Dirie has been a pioneer in stopping this practice. She has launched a non-profit organization called Desert Flower Foundation. It operates worldwide.

Its Berlin facility was established in 2013. It comes with full-time medical staff and equipment. Treatment is provided for free.

Roland Scherer / Doctor:

They have psychological problems, sometimes sexual problems. So we talk to them and part of them about 50% later come to reconstructive surgery, which is done in our hospital.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

More than 3,000 women have been treated here in the past 9 years.

Waris Dirie:

There is no such a professional person to do this. But somebody, just one day a lady start doing it, and she becomes the cutter. But then nobody educated her nobody teach her how to do what to do.

So, they do all kinds of horrendous damage to the girls.

Some are bleeding to death. Some are damaged so badly. Some are this ...some disfigured from all inside the vagina some.

It just it is agony for these people. It's just so unfair. So, pain continues again and again. And it is really terrible.

Who is in charge of this? You know, to me, I didn't know what the helI is going on. And I wasn't taking this. So, I just I said I have the world have to change.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Dirie was born in the east African country of Somalia in 1965. She experienced genital mutilation when she was 5 years old.

Waris Dirie:

You can read it all about in my diary. I'm not going to go line to line for that. It's a ... It's ... just not good, not right, not.... Woman suffer so much of this.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

It's the past Dirie doesn't like to revisit...

We took an excerpt from her autobiography in 1997.

Narration of Waris Dirie’s autobiography:

"All I could think about was the pain between my legs.

I knew a lot about being an African woman: I knew how to live quietly with suffering in the passive, helpless manner of a child."

Gene Otani / Narrator:

FGM left Dirie with deep emotional wounds.

But tragedy continued...

Eight years later, she was ordered by her father to marry an elderly man.

Waris Dirie:

He came up with idea and said, "Come on, sit down here with me down" one evening from my home. And he says "No. I gotta find for you. I have a husband for you, baby. A good man."

Oh, man, with a stick, the same age as my father. Really, really? I see the face exactly now.

I couldn't see my life. I saw my life buried dead.

I said then I say, "Father. No. It's not gonna happen. But papi don't do it. Don't, Don't, Don't stress yourself. I'm telling you now. It's not gonna happen".

I ran in the middle of the night. My father Trunk threatened me," You go, I find you, and I die you, and I ooooh..." I said, "Did you find, catch me if you can first.".

And he tried．He follow me for two days in the foot following my footstep in the desert. And every time I see him, his voice I'm going down when he's coming up in one. And he couldn't do it. So, he give up. He went back.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Dirie ran away from home when she was 13. She escaped by walking through the desert alone....and looked for her relative living in Mogadishu.

One of them was her uncle, who was an ambassador. She went with him during his transfer to London.

Dirie then became a model after being recruited when she was working at a fast-food restaurant.

She got on magazines like Vogue and became a top model.

She talked about her experiences of going through FGM for the first time when she was 32. This was during a magazine interview.

That experience inspired her mission today to end female genital mutilation.

Waris Dirie:

I started the FGM, it wasn't easy. It was a lonely a shocking and hideous time for me.

Everybody was looking at me like what did she just say? Was she talking about? Oh god, I'm sorry.

I found... I'm in the ignorant of the world is another one.

And after this, I decided to do a book and I provide it for the schools and libraries. That was the only mission I made the book. Because somebody can read it and do something with it.

The great thing is because of the book, you know, the world became aware was a good thing.

I do believe there was I have made a change in my little effort as I try my best.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Female genital mutilation has captured global attention through Dirie's testimonies.

The United Nations set a goal of ending FGM. To make this happen. Dirie was appointed as a Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.

In 2002, she established her non-profit, "Desert Flower" and continues her activities through this organization.

Her efforts have been paying off. Laws to stop FGM have been enacted in places like Kenya and Nigeria. Numbers are expected to fall dramatically. But genital mutilation still continues in some regions.

That's because there are physicians who claim that there are no problems with FGM if health checks are done properly.

Dirie says otherwise. And the physical and mental wounds of the practice can't be ignored. And she continues to speak out to end female genital mutilation.

Waris Dirie:

Does how makes, okay? Because it's at the same crime.

Whether you do it this way, or that way, under down? It is the same crime you committed.

Young girls do not want in Africa not a... not one girl want this.

First, you know, the laws. You can make a law, but you have to implement them. You have to follow them. You have to force them to do whatever it is that's harmful or wrong.

Because it's you do it, or you don't do it, it's this kind of behavior.

And if the... if the if government... if law ...if the politicians don't stand up and say this is from today is, "No, never ever, ever, ever" and you find that you will be truly punished, if this don't happen people continue their own ways.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Dirie has started a new project in 2018.

She's helping to build schools in regions where genital mutilation is still practiced, connecting and educating girls there to eradicate FGM.

Waris Dirie:

It's a contract that I will take your child because they all want to give the children education. One. This they know this is good for their child. But you promise me never ever to touch her. And if I find that you did, you lost.

Your child lost you lost because they get food to a gift them

The mother's get food, the house because it's a poor country, you know, 30 euro a month really feed the family.

So, they don't have to use the excuse I have to sell my child, forced marriage, mutilation. No. All this is out.

This is when you bring the next generation and educate them.

Sound from musical

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Dirie is also involved in producing a musical about genital mutilation... It's to spread the word to developed countries.

The Coronavirus has stalled the production. But it will be restarted in various places in Europe by the summer of 2022.

Waris Dirie:

This musical is so relevant in today's life, in today's world, where you have sexual abuse, you have a child crime, you have a crime against women, you have a... gender inequality.

You have strength and the will to say I can survive anything no matter what you're trying to do to me.

You know, you take a step and back. Haha.

But you never give up the right or fight.

I'm still have empty somewhere and I want to finish this and I think the movie, the book, me running around...

I'm not satisfied this yet. It's not is... the world didn't get it yet.

Gene Otani / Narrator:

Dirie has left us with this word...

Waris Dirie:

Love is my message all around. There's no other reason I exist in the world! If this..

Yeah, I live in life and continue on do too much things to do. But you know, you know my main mission is really is my foundation and my children and loving life.

Alex Steullet / Host:

Love. Faced with a cruel and overwhelming problem, Waris leaves us with a simple yet important message. Any hope for a better future has to start with more love for one another.

Back in university when I studied human rights, we were taught about the importance of respecting other cultures. Before we point fingers and tell people what's wrong with their rituals, we first need to understand and empathize.

At the same time, we were also taught about the dangers of cultural relativism. Just because we have to respect one another doesn't mean we have to tolerate what is clearly wrong. I draw the line at harming children.

Waris' cause is one we can all support, regardless of where you're from and how far away this problem seems. In her interview, she said the world doesn't get it. We don't understand.

These people, these children, are being traumatized for life in the shadows. We need to shine a spotlight on this problem until it ends. We need to understand. We need to stand by our values in the face of unspeakable suffering.

That's it for today's episode. Thank you for listening. You can find the transcript, as well as our other stories, on the NHK WORLD website. I've been Alex Steuulet, join us next time for more mind-expanding insights from inspiring people on Vision Vibes.