The Vavengers

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The Vavengers

Working to ending Female Ge***al Mutilation/Cutting and all other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls.

The Vavengers is a UK based anti-FGM/C charity working with survivors and partner organisations toward one common goal: ending Female Ge***al Mutilation/Cutting and Violence Against Women and Girls. In 2015, The Vavengers used grassroots funding to erect the UK’s first anti-FGM billboard. We then focused on bridging the gap between the charity sector and the arts and spent several years hosting events throughout London to raise much-needed funds and awareness for survivors of FGM/C. Today, we campaign to mainstream FGM/C and amplify the voices of survivors. We
work with our community ambassadors to facilitate specialist grassroots programs, and with healthcare professionals to identify and support FGM/C patients in different healthcare settings. It is only through working together that we may that we may reach out goal of ending FGM/C & VAW.

05/10/2026

We are looking for our next Chief Executive Officer! After five years of dedicated service, Sema Gornall announced earlier this year that she is moving forward. We are incredibly grateful for the incredible work she has done not only for our organisation but also for the wider movement. As we are excited for Sema’s next chapter, we are recruiting our next CEO to continue running our led-by-and-for organisation.

This role is based in our Central London offices, with occasional national & international travel involved, as well as opportunities to lead partnerships with the UK government, the international non-profit community, and donors. Our new leader will work alongside the team, board and survivor activists we work with to shape policy, campaign and advocate nationally & globally to end Gender-Based Violence, fundraise and be a trusted spokesperson in the human rights movement.

If you think you have what it takes, apply via our charityjob profile.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/e5nFGgPR

06/08/2026

Thank you charity for supporting our work 🎉

30/07/2026

After 5 years leading The Vavengers as our Chief Executive Officer, Sema Gornall will be moving forward at the end of 2026. Sema’s leadership made the start-up charity a globally recognised campaigning and convening organisation while also growing its deep roots in frontline support work. Her influence and work, building on the existing values of The Vavengers, turned us into a powerhouse with allies and supporters globally. Her legacy will continue to have a positive impact not only on The Vavengers but also on the wider gender-equality movement.

Sema built systems for survivor activists to be platformed nationally and globally while utilising the power of strong partnerships with extraordinary pro bono support driven to our cause. With a business model of six-to seven-figure gifts in kind each year since she became our CEO, Sema is leaving behind an incredible workforce from legal, financial and management consultancy firms, supporting our movement. Sema also built the charity’s flagship ambassadorship model, providing support, platforming, access, leadership opportunities and care to survivors of Gender-Based Violence, decolonising structures that worked against survivors.

Sema’s work built significant ties between sectors, enabled equality that works for everyone within our movement, drove legislative and practical policies, and mobilised resources from all sources.

Read the full press release on our website: https://thevavengers.co.uk/blognews/sema-gornall-to-move-forward-from-being-the-ceo-of-vavengers

30/06/2026

Partnership and allyship are at the heart of our work to end FGM and intersecting violence. We are so proud to have co-hosted a very successful convening together with The Vavengers and AWRA (African Women’s Rights Advocates) with the support of Wallace Global Fund

At the glorious building, we welcomed global activists, NGOs, government members, livery companies and more. It was a night co-organised by Livery member & Vavengers CEO and AWRA CEO i and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of wonderful Livery companies who poured in support for this night to be possible.

Creating spaces that are safe, dignified and equal is one of our core missions we are proud of and this night just achieved that. We heard from Scott Wallace on why WGF is launching a 10m USD now to support causes working to end FGM and forced marriage, Sema Gornall talked on why we cannot take violence lightly and building the power structures & systems required to end violence, while Naimah Hassan spoke on the importance of intersectionality and how to support survivors with care.

We also heard from Lucy Rawson incoming master of The Clothworkers' Company on the urgency to end FGM from a medical perspective and from Leyla Hussein on the decades of work that have brought the movement forward. Payzee Mahmod and Sir Max Hill spoke to the justice focus of the issue and why the time is now.

This was a defining moment for our sector with so many of our sector partners helping to make this happen. FGM and forced marriage are issues that are at the front and centre of global issues today and we are grateful to all the leadership that goes into making this work happen. Platforms like this are what we need more of to drive resources to survivors and visibility of the rights issues facing women and girls globally.

19/05/2026

This day is a day that has been decades in the making with the tireless campaigning of generations of activists! The UK Government hosted the first dedicated FGM Summit at the FCDO on 29th April, bringing together Ministers, survivors, campaigners, and frontline organisations to confront one of the most serious human rights violations of our time. The Vavengers are proud to be co-hosting alongside African Women’s Rights Advocates, Attorney General’s Office, Home Office and FCDO. Special thanks to our co-hosts and organisers Sema Gornall, Payzee Mahmod and Naimah Hassan for working with the government members to make this happen! Thank you to all of the speakers and we couldn't have achieved this without partnership working.

We all have fought for this space. We all demanded to be in these rooms. And finally, we are. Building on the decades of activism, this achievement makes us incredibly proud! This is what survivor-led advocacy looks like and thank you to all who collaborate with us, work with us and support our work. This is why we do not stop. ✊

18/05/2026

Payzee Mahmod speaks to LBC this morning about the child marriage of

As campaigners and defenders of the rights of women and girls, we are all clear that all marriage under the age of 18 is forced and children cannot consent to marriage. In England and Wales with a campaign led by Payzee, child marriage alongside other forms of abuse such as hymenoplasty and ‘virginity’ testing were banned in 2023. The move of the family appears to protect them against this law however we are calling for UK law enforcement agencies to close these loopholes and address this issue.

When media and influential people normalise child abuse and present child marriage as ‘young love’, it not only further gaslights the survivor into thinking this is their choice but also enables more community members to repeat these forms of violence against children. Children cannot consent to marriage.

23/04/2026

Watch our latest film for by 👏

Payzee Mahmod talks about her experience in a health setting and why it would make a huge difference in her physical and mental health journey to be asked the question sooner.

FGM has a lifelong physical and mental health impact, it’s a major global women’s health crisis, a form of sexual violence and modern slavery. Women and girls live with the impact of FGM while being expected to continue their lives as usual. FGM harms the quality of life of women and girls and we are asking for the data gap to be closed for survivors to be identified and provided with a holistic health response.

15/04/2026

The Vavengers partnered with Taylor Wessing UK and Lewis Silkin for a pro bono clinic for women’s and children’s rights activists. In attendance were our ambassadors who work as public campaigners and reputation and contract expert lawyers advised them on navigating defamation, privacy risks and brand protection - a much-needed support for campaigners holding power to account.

Sema Gornall our CEO, moderated a discussion between Naimah Hassan CEO of African Women’s Rights Advocates, Lauren Stone Managing Associate, in the Digital, Commerce & Creative team at Lewis Silkin, and Michael Szlesinger Associate in the Reputation Management and Privacy Protection team at Taylor Wessing UK

The discussion was followed by legal lectures and one-to-one legal advice for campaigners.

Thank you to all the attendees, and to legal professionals Xuyang Zhu, Sofia Pesce and Andi Terziu Victoria Owrid, Jordan Quartey and Katie Major for volunteering at the clinic, and to Jess Thomas.

30/03/2026

We took our global health & legal landscape report on FGM to the National Honour Based Abuse Conference.

Representing us at stage was Sema Gornall, our CEO, Payzee Mahmod, Advisory Board Member & Ambassador and Faysal Curry, Ambassador. Sema talked about the intersections of FGM and GBV, legal vulnerabilities across the world and health systems leaving women and girls vulnerable to a lifetime of violence without appropriate care. She also showcased good heath practice while highlighting good practice in legal area being patchy. Payzee talked about the importance of holistic health systems and how one question could change lives of survivors. She also called for the U.K. government to create systemic changes where these health & legal loopholes are present. Faysal talked about the need for male allyship in ending GBV and why men need to own responsibility in male-led violence against women and girls. The accountability was the main theme throughout our main stage presentation and we look forward to announcing further work with the U.K. government soon.

16/02/2026

We are deeply heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dr Aysha Raza. Dr Raza was a dedicated public servant, and a kind person who was always there for the communities across London and beyond. In a world where many speak about community, she truly showed up for it. She showed up for families, frontline organisations, children and she showed up to build a better world for everyone. And she showed up for us. Aysha supported our community work as a dedicated Ambassador for years and helped us strengthen communities.

From the very beginning, she treated our work with respect and the importance it deserved. She listened. She encouraged. She made time. Her support was not performative, it was authentic and consistent. She understood the importance of safeguarding, of early intervention and of community-led solutions, and she never underestimated the value of frontline organisations.

What stood out most was her warmth. She led with humility and humanity. Even in busy rooms and complex conversations, she carried herself with grace and care. That sincerity meant more than she probably ever realised. Her presence in Ealing and in Greater London made a real difference. Her belief in community partnership made a difference. And her personal encouragement meant a great deal to us.

Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with her family, loved ones and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. We lost a remarkable woman, but her legacy will live on.

With love and deepest sympathy.

Address

59 Cornhill House
London
EC3V3PD

Website

http://www.thevavengers.co.uk/

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