Blog – Pánsá Pánsá Podcast

Madam Alimatu Dimonekene MBE is an award-winning women and girls' rights advocate. Madam Dimonekene is a high-profile British and Sierra Leonean award-winning Human Rights Activist, Child Protection and Safeguarding Expert, Keynote Speaker at Girl Summit in 2014, FGM Consultant, Philanthropist, and mentor. She is a member of Equality Now, an Op-ed Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls, and a member of the African Achievers Awards honorees. In 2023, Alimatu was honored and recognized by King Charles III as she was awarded MBE. This award was to acknowledge dedication to the prevention of violence against women and girls. This award also highlighted her tireless work in global education and crusade to eradicate female genital mutilation/cutting. She is a tireless activist who has dedicated her life's purpose to enhancing the reproductive health rights of women and girls, especially those affected by harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation\cutting (FGM/C) with child and early forced marriage and exploitation. Winner of the Rosie McGrath Activist 2018, Alimatu has also been recognized for her dedicated work by winning the African Achievers Award 2017 for her work in raising the voices of African women and girls through empowering the next generation. She is also the founder of A Girl At A Time (SL), a leading platform to engage, empower, and educate young people about the issues of gender-based violence and advocacy. I had the pleasure of meeting Alimatu Dimonekene coincidently when she attended Pansa Pansa's conversation and recording with Lola Aforo as a lister and a supporter of my guest. She briefly talked about her own experience with FGM and the activism she is engaged in globally on this topic. Alimatu accepted my invitation to come on the platform to discuss her experiences and educate the public about her dedication to eradicating FGM in Sierra Leone and globally. During our conversation, Alimatu talked about her family background, her close relationship with her parents, and their opposition to FGM. She spoke extensively about her grandmother's influence, who initiated the cut against your parents' will. She shared her insight into how cultural expectations obstruct her parents' inability to protest against her grandmother's will. She further talked about the taboo imposed on the victims of FGM as they are forbidden to speak about it. Alimatu explained how this taboo created fear in her to talk about her experiences with FGM in public. Alimatu further educates the audience on the history of FGM globally, its origination and the different types of FGM performed worldwide. She further spoke about February 6th, the day that commemorates The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, its history, and the impact of this day on world awareness of FGM. She discussed the physical, emotional, and psychological effects on the victims of FGM and many more. To follow Alimatu's work, please visit her website @ https://www.agdgetitdone.co.uk/ — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kemi-seriki3/message