The Vavengers

23/04/2026

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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.

19/03/2026

Bountiful it is! Wodcast team hosted a fundraiser for The Vavengers; our survivor and women-led movement working to end Female Ge***al Mutilation and intersecting forms of Gender-Based Violence. The word bountiful was chosen for the day, which welcomed guests of Wodcast, and the work of The Vavengers was discussed in a safe activism space created by Wodcast Co-founder Mabel and Benjamin.

This donation will support our multi-stream work, which connects survivors with essential referrals, campaigns to create systemic health & legal changes and convenes to hold important conversations with members of the public, government, commercial businesses and non-profits.

We always welcome acts of kindness as such by activists and it’s wonderful to see our work being supported by self-organised community fundraising events!

What was your word for International Women’s Day?

08/03/2026

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.

06/02/2026

Find out why our campaign is crucial to women's and girls’ health.

Learn more about our work at www.thevavengers.co.uk

06/02/2026

FGM is a form of Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Violence and Modern Slavery. We have no tolerance for FGM and the weak systems that enable this form of violence. It’s a global issue that must be eradicated within our lifetime. We are campaigning for increased health & legal systems to support women and girls who are survivors or at-risk of FGM. Join our movement so we can build a world where women and girls can thrive.

27/01/2026

Read our latest interview with the Independent where Shaheena Uddin writes on the rise of labiaplasty and risks this surgery poses to women and girls. Our CEO and Ambassador are quoted with vital information on why governments must get ahead of this harmful surgery and protect women and girls under their FGM framework.

22/12/2025

The Vavengers CEO Sema Gornall was delighted to join Datshiane Navanayagam at the BBC Woman’s Hour today alongside Christine Jardine MP to discuss the latest Women and Equality Committee’s report on FGM, aid cuts and the UK government’s new plan to tackle VAWG.

Christine talked about the importance of prevalence solutions and improved health outcomes for survivors which are critical changes we have been campaigning for as part of our One Question Campaign. It makes us proud that the systemic legal and health changes we would like to see are now in the government’s five-year plan, but our work is not over on the One Question Campaign. We will continue working with the UK government and campaigning until the changes reflected in the plan are implemented.

Our CEO Sema Gornall highlighted the importance of programmes such as The Girl Generation which has been a partner of The Vavengers and the need to increase funding globally to end FGM. Sema clarified that funding anti-Gender-Based Violence programmes is not aid but investment in women and girls and our global economy and welfare. Sema said it's never a bad time or bad idea to invest in women and girls. Listen to the full segment on the clip.

19/12/2025

The UK government published a new strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. Named ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’, the strategy covers all forms of Gender-Based Violence and highlights improvement on anti-FGM services, clinical experience of survivors, as well as a need for a prevalence study. We welcome these changes within the anti-FGM campaign and are excited to continue contributing to this work in partnership with the UK government to implement these systemic changes.