Inspiring Women SUMMER 2020

What was the first step you took to get involved in HGWT? I had always wanted to make a film
about female genital mutilation, which I consider to be the most egregious human rights abuse
committed against girls and women in the world today. It’s a fact of life in 92 countries and
counting, which few people know. When I heard about Rhobi’s refuge saving girls during the
chillingly named “cutting season,“ I knew I’d found a way into the story. It was an important
opportunity to highlight the voices of girls whose voices had not been heard in thousands of
years. And it was a chance to help focus the FGM conversation around the human rights of girls.
FGM is child abuse, sexual abuse, and torture, plain and simple. It’s time we framed the
conversation in those terms.
Tell us something about the documentary you have made. I consider In the Name of Your
Daughter to be the most important film of my career; I hope it’s a real contribution towards the
creation of a better world. It’s educating Western audiences worldwide, and it’s also being used
in communities where female genital mutilation is prevalent. There continue to be village
screenings not just in Tanzania, but also in Nigeria and Kenya. Just imagine, the day after the first
village screening in Tanzania, three 9 and 10-year-old girls who had seen the film showed up at
Rhobi’s Safe House. One was brought by her own brother. That’s change in the making, and
that’s wonderful, and shows Rhobi’s work is important.
Together with an entirely Tanzanian team led by cinematographer Samson Kapinga, I spent two
months documenting life at Rhobi’s Safe House during the “cutting season.” We filmed as girls as
young as eight arrived there after having fled from their homes to avoid being forced to go
through female genital mutilation by the very people who are supposed to protect them. It was
both inspiring and heart-breaking. Imagine, these girls have to make a decision that no child
should ever have to make: agree to be cut, or risk their lives and run away from home, not
knowing if they will ever see their families again. The most memorable day was going with Rhobi
and little Rosie to Rosie’s home and film the reconciliation attempt with her mother. Rosie’s mom
completely denied that she had ever intended to cut her, and yet 10-year-old Rosie said that
her own cousin, who was even younger than her, had already been cut.
My heart was in my throat, as I watched Rhobi talking with Rosie’s mom, and saw Rosie’s pain,
her fear. I will never forget the words Rosie spoke to her mother: “Mama, I don’t reject you, I just
reject the cutting,” tears streaming down her face. I was so afraid Rhobi would leave Rosie there,
and that she might still be cut. I should have known better! Rhobi took Rosie back to the Safe
House to protect her. Filmmakers are supposed to be the window on the world, and not
intervene in events. That day, with almost paralyzing fear for Rosie, I found that very, very hard.
What has surprised you most about life
dealing with these issues and the girls?
The most surprising thing is the clarity
with which the girls see female genital
mutilation – they have no problem
understanding that this is fundamentally
wrong, even if it has been going on for
generations; even if their parents say it’s
important. And yet their parents hang
on to these tortuous traditions, unable
to embrace change. And of course, the
girls’ courage is unbelievable--many of
them literally risked their lives, running
through areas inhabited by wild
animals, including lions, to get to the
Safe House. Not to mention the
emotional courage of leaving their own
families behind.
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