Help save 16-year-old from Female Genital Mutilation

I Stand Against Female Genital Mutilation

A fund-raising event to support 16-year-old Olayinka Olatunde, her mum and two teenage brothers in their campaign to remain in the UK is taking place on Sunday 18 August.

Rochdale Online has previously highlighted the case of Olayinka and her family who were forced to flee Nigeria three years agofollowing attempts to make her undergo Female Genital Mutilation, part of the cultural tradition within her father's family and tribe.

Her mother Abiola's eldest child died in Nigeria 21 years ago after being forced to undergo FGM when she was eight years old. Abiola was terrified that the same thing would happen to her younger daughter.

In 2009, attempts were made by her father's family to force the procedure on Olayinka but she resisted them.

Abiola was advised by police to move with her children to a different part of Nigeria – she did this but Olayinka's father's family tracked them down and they left the country to seek asylum in the UK.

Since 2010, when her father died, Olayinka has been at even greater risk of being forced to undergo FGM in Nigeria. She and her mother are being blamed for his death because it is a cultural belief that, without the FGM, bad things will continue to happen to their family.

Their asylum claim was refused in June 2012 and, in July 2012, Olayinka took an overdose saying she would prefer to die rather than return to Nigeria. She and the rest of her family are still at risk of being forcibly removed from the UK to Nigeria.

Her psychologist has explained “This psychological distress will remain high unless the physical threat to her safety is addressed", and her psychiatrist has concluded "There are significant clinical risks to Olayinka if the family are forced to return to Nigeria".

Health workers as well as teachers are backing the campaign by Olayinka and her family to remain in the UK. Their fight is also supported by a group of Nigerian men living in this country who are strongly opposed to FGM.

The fund-raising event on 18 August, organised by The National Union of Teachers in Rochdale and RAPAR, will include music, entertainment, refreshments, a bouncy castle, face-painting and other children's activities. There will also be guest speakers on the day.

Nick Wigmore, Rochdale NUT Secretary and representative on the Union's National Executive Council, said: “We must ensure that we do everything we can to protect the children in our community and ensure they are protected from physical and psychological harm, wherever that threat lies. Olayinka must be protected from FGM and we must act collectively to demonstrate opposition to her deportation.”

The fund-raiser will run from 11am-4pm at The Hub, 21 Whitehall Street, Falinge, Rochdale OL12 OLN. Money from the event will help with legal costs as well as publicising the campaign and raising awareness about the issues relating to Olayinka's case.