Testimonials
It was the worst experience ever. No girl should ever have to go through that horror. These are our lives and the children’s voices need to be heard and respected. I believe this film will help give our children that voice.
In the Name of Your Daughter is, quite simply, essential viewing for teenagers all over the world. And if we are lucky they will someday play some role in ensuring this deadly practice is stopped.
Freddy Macha
The Citizen, Tanzania
The movie “In the name of your daughter” is not just any other movie! It was a complete train wreck of a heartbreaking documentary! It touched me in ways not many movies do. I was inspired by the bravery of the girls and how different their lifestyle is compared to ours here in Denmark. It deserves to get its story around, they have fought harder battles than we probably ever will.
Filippa Olrik, 13
In the name of your daughter’ was incredibly moving. I would call it life-changing. It’s a film that puts everything into perspective, we are all so privileged to live a life like ours, compared to the girls fighting against FGM. The girls from Tanzania have an amazing story that the whole world should be aware of.
Regitze Steenberg, 14
RHOBI SAMWELLY
Human Rights Activist, FGM Survivor, Director, Hope Center, Tanzania
My dream is to save girls from being cut, and I will never stop until FGM is history in my community. This film is very very important because it will help raise awareness not just in our community, but in the district and even in other countries that are receiving African people who have the same tradition of cutting. It may help make our people change. It will also give our girls a voice, people will be able to hear the children, because they’ve never been heard before.
Hibo Wardere
Human Rights Activist, Author, and FGM survivor
What I love about this documentary is that it puts the children first. The girls are at the centre of the film, not the parents, not the community. It’s about what the girls think, and that is the film’s power. The girls’ voices are not just heard, the girls voices are respected; the film shows that the girls matter, that their thoughts are valued, that they as human beings are valued. The girls are all amazing, and I’m in awe of all of them, but what stuck with me is Rosie and the fire in her. I wish there was somewhere I could have gone and seek help when I was six, I really wish that. Watching this documentary, that six-year old me came out. I look at these girls, and sometimes I’m crying, and sometimes I’m smiling, they are just beautiful beautiful babies. Rhobi Samwelly, the woman who runs the Safe House and puts her life in danger, she is a beautiful person inside and out. She is a mother hen to the girls, to all of us, even to me. The whole world needs to see this documentary and to stand up for girls who don’t want to be cut.
KAREN MUSALO
Professor, Director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, University of California Hastings, and attorney for Fauziya Kassindja, whose case established the legal landmark in the United States that fear of FGC was the basis for refugee protection
Although it has been condemned as physically and psychologically devastating and a violation of women’s fundamental human rights, the practice of female genital cutting continues in countries around the world – even in those countries where it has been outlawed. Criticisms of it are most often brushed away by its practitioners, accusing those who speak against it of being western outsiders attempting to impose their will on other cultures. In The Name Of Your Daughter is bound to be a powerful and essential rebuttal to this narrative of cultural imperialism. It promises to tell the story of resistance within the cultures themselves where FGC is practiced, through the story of a courageous woman who protects girls from the fate she herself could not avoid.
F.M.
A Canadian Survivor of FGM, Cranbrook, B.C.
In the summer of 2003 my siblings and I were laughing and telling stories on the balcony of my father’s house. In Africa, summer is a time to play and share stories under the moonlight with family and friends. It’s a time when every girl’s dream is for her parents to buy her new clothes for her vacation. I was sent to spend the holidays with my grandma who I really love. She was always there for me when I was growing up and taught me the ways and traditions of Gambia. Before I returned home to my father and stepmother, my Grandma bought me some lovely clothes and traditional African jewellery. I was so happy. Back at my father’s house, on the 25th of August 2003 at 4 a.m., my stepmother woke me up. I was very surprised to be woken up at that awkward hour. I was only thirteen and had no choice but to obey. I showered and then noticed she was talking to another women who had arrived with three young girls my age. I asked my stepmother why are we going out at this ungodly hour and she said we were going to visit a friend who was critically ill. I trusted her because I was young and naive. We drove for a long time and ended up in an old and empty house in a remote area. After we arrived, my step mum and the other ladies had a long conversation inside. Then my step mum came out of the house and took me inside. They took one of the other little girls into one of the rooms. After about five minutes I heard a loud scream coming from that room and I was scared to death! The little girl screamed and I was terrified and was about to run outside but my step mom grabbed me and they tied my hands so I couldn’t struggle. That was the most terrifying moment of my life! I was grabbed again by two women who put a blindfold over my eyes. They started saying “don’t worry, it won’t hurt,” but it hurt like hell. I was crying and screaming for my mom to come and get me. I really needed her but she was far away. I cried and prayed for rescue but none came. I felt completely helpless the moment they put me on the ground and I felt a sharp blade cutting into my private part. My clitoris was chopped off. At that moment I wished I was never born to this world. The pain I felt was the worst pain I had ever experienced in all my life, and I cried so much that I could hardly breathe. It was like the world came to an end. That whole day I couldn’t pee because I was so scared of the pain; I was not given any painkillers or anything to reduce the pain. It was the worst experience ever. No girl should ever have to go through that horror. These are our lives and the children’s voices need to be heard and respected. I believe this film will help give our children that voice.
JULIAN MARCUS
Chair, Overseas Development Trust, Tanzanian Development Trust, funder of the Tanzanian Safe House
In the Name of Your Daughter is the most powerful, compelling, and honest documentary that I think I have ever seen. I came to it with both apprehension and anticipation. I know the location, and the main characters well and have some understanding of what young girls face in this isolated corner of Tanzania. Could a film do them justice? Might it gloss over the problems and difficulties? Within a few minutes any doubts were swept away. Giselle Portenier and her team have shown a sympathetic understanding of communities bound by local traditions but also of the huge cost to the girls who must suffer FGM to become child brides and then be denied secondary education, But this film is not a dry polemic- it is a story of brave young girls daring to flee from home, often because they know more than their parents about the dangers of FGM. It is sometimes sad, occasionally funny, always deeply moving. The cinematography – all Tanzanian- is excellent and very beautiful at times and the music fits ideally. It must be said also that this film is not Westerners telling Tanzanians what to do. It’s a film that gives a voice to young women with the courage to say ‘No!’ . Their Tanzanian Government wants an immediate end to FGM. The girls know it’s illegal. Can they convince their parents? We are aware of Giselle’s superb record of documentary film-making and are entirely confident that she has the tact, skills, expertise and knowledge to gain the confidence of the girls and to produce an honest and strong documentary that will help in the campaign against FGM and support Rhobi and her team.
FLORA TERAH-IGOKI
Canadian/Kenyan Human Rights Activist, President, The Wanawake Foundation, East Africa
Giselle Portenier is a dedicated human rights defender and I have no doubt that she has the talent and commitment to produce an excellent film on the violations of girls’ rights. Giselle has a long history of championing human rights and has won recognition from many corners, including an Amnesty International award and two Peabodys for her films. She has been an active proponent of human rights initiatives as well as an important role model for women’s empowerment. I have been very fortunate to have been able to collaborate with her on the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM.) In my own estimation, Giselle’s film In The Name Of Your Daughter will be a huge contribution in the fight against FGM and forced child marriage.
FLORA TERAH-IGOKI
Canadian/Kenyan Human Rights Activist, President, The Wanawake Foundation, East Africa
Giselle Portenier is a dedicated human rights defender and I have no doubt that she has the talent and commitment to produce an excellent film on the violations of girls’ rights. Giselle has a long history of championing human rights and has won recognition from many corners, including an Amnesty International award and two Peabodys for her films. She has been an active proponent of human rights initiatives as well as an important role model for women’s empowerment. I have been very fortunate to have been able to collaborate with her on the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM.) In my own estimation, Giselle’s film In The Name Of Your Daughter will be a huge contribution in the fight against FGM and forced child marriage.
Jessica Neuwirth
Donor Direct Action, U.S.A.
Giselle Portenier’s beautiful film portrays the heart-breaking challenges faced by so many millions of girls around the world who are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. I hope everyone sees it and will be inspired also to support the activists working on the front lines to end this extremely harmful traditional practice
RAHEEL RAZA
Human Rights Activist President, Council For Muslims Facing Tomorrow and Founding Member, Muslim Reform Movement.
This testimonial is to applaud and support the efforts of award-winning director Giselle Portenier, who is embarking on a challenging film about the rights of girls and specifically Female Genital Mutilation. Portenier has produced and directed more than 30 long-form documentaries and many shorter television magazine features, mostly during her twenty-year career at the BBC based in London. For much of that time, she has concentrated on hard-hitting international human rights investigations. In 2014 she received an honorary doctor of laws from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, for her contribution to journalism. As a human rights activist, I fully support the work being done by Portenier and thank her for bringing critical issues to the forefront without worrying about being politically correct. Her work is imperative to the battle for women’s human rights globally.