Dear AHA Foundation Supporter,
Like countless individuals around the world, our hearts and minds are filled with those touched by the mass murder in Orlando. I shared my thoughts on the heartbreaking consequences of the venom of intolerance towards the LGBTQ community in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal.
This month of Father’s Day, we highlight two men of integrity – both hailing from Africa – who legitimately honor women by joining the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and sex trafficking.
Derreck Kayongo, once a refugee from Uganda who fled a tyrant dictator to Kenya, now a resident of Atlanta, was named a Top Ten CNN Hero of 2011 and currently heads up the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. In this newsletter, we speak to him about the inspiration for his passion fighting sex trafficking and the abuse of women worldwide, his advice for refugees who come to the US, and his call to arms for all fathers.
Next we share with you the inspirational work of Tony Mwebia, who campaigns to end female genital mutilation on the community level in Kuria, Kenya, where 96% of all females undergo FGM. Tony has seen first-hand the link between FGM and child marriage and is a courageous voice fighting against both abuses. He also understands the critical role men and boys play in the fight against FGM, saying, “Assuming all men said no to FGM today, trust me the fight will be over once and for all.”
Derreck and Tony are two shining examples of men who stand up for the rights of women and girls around the world and encourage others to do the same. This kind of advocacy is invaluable because to create sustainable change for the better, to truly change hearts and minds, men and boys must be involved in the process. We applaud their tremendous work and are honored to share their stories with you.
Finally, we spoke with advocates against honor violence about which books have inspired them, shaped their careers, or changed their perspectives. We hope that by adding some of these titles to your summer reading list you will be moved in the same way.
Sincerely,
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Founder, The AHA Foundation