Somalia and USA / 1993 / 60mins / Documentary / Somali with English voice-over

This powerful film is the first to present an African viewpoint on a culturally explosive issue. Somali filmmaker, Soraya Mire knows firsthand about the traditional African practice of female genital mutilation. At thirteen, she was subjected to it and spent the next twenty years recovering physically and emotionally from its cruel legacy. In this video, several women who have been subjected to this "rite of passage" voice varying points of view on perpetuating the practice. Testimony from doctors details the various forms of female circumcision and the horrendous ob/gyn problems that result.

Soraya Mire

Soraya Miré is an award-winning director, in addition to being a writer and activist. Her credits include a featured segment of The Vagina Monologues on female genital mutilation (FGM) and the award-winning documentary Fire Eyes (1993), which highlights the barbaric practice of FGM. Fire Eyes was featured at the International Women’s Conference in Beijing, the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, and The United Nations in Geneva, as well as several film festivals. Miré’s activism has been recognized with many prestigious awards such as the Humanitarian Award at the United Nations Sub-Commission Sessions, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Winnie Mandela Award, Best Documentary at the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, the Human Rights Award at the Third International Symposia on Circumcision at the University of Maryland, and Intact America’s Personal Courage Award 2009. Born in Somalia, Miré immigrated to Europe in 1978 at age seventeen. She lived in France where she studied literature and political science at the University of Grenoble. Miré left her studies in order to expand her mission to end violence toward women and children. In 1984, Miré moved to Los Angeles where she began her career in film by working in several production studios. At the UCLA Extension, while attending film school, she assisted professor and documentary filmmaker Douchin Gersi. Miré has demonstrated her persistence as she brings awareness, education and changes in policies and laws regarding the practice of FGM. She has appeared on Oprah, CNN and Nightline with Ted Koppel. Miré has lectured at Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Morehouse College, UCLA, Vanderbilt University, Stanford University, Spelman College, Emory University, San Francisco State, Howard University, USC, Moorpark College, Mount Saint Mary’s College and Lesley University. Miré has stood before committees at the United Nations, the U.S. Senate Human Resources and Health Assembly and the World Health Organization. She has worked with medical professionals, government officials, and with women and families who have been affected by FGM, all in her tireless pursuit of protection of human rights for women and girls. Miré’s book The Girl with Three Legs: A Memoir is a dramatic chronicle of the personal challenges she overcame as a survivor of FGM, a firsthand account of the violent global oppression of women and girls, and a testament to the empowerment of women. Learn More