Clitoraid organizes worldwide ‘Silent Walks’ against female genital mutilation;
To be held on Nov. 25, U.N.’s ‘Elimination of Violence Against Women Day’

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 24 – “Ban Ki-moon, General Secretary of United Nations, says the world must unite to end violence against women, but although everyone knows that includes rape, sexual slavery and beatings, ending the barbaric practice of Female Genital Mutilation is equally important,” said Nadine Gary, director of communications for Clitoraid, a U.S.-based international nonprofit organization, in a statement released today.

For the U.N.’s annual “International Day to End Violence Against Women,” Nov. 25, Gary said Clitoraid is planning “Silent Walks” directed against FGM as well as against rape, conjugal violence and other violent acts against females. [See for Silent Walk times and locations.]

Clitoraid has been fighting against FGM since 2006.

“We provide clitoral repair surgery for FGM victims,” Gary said. “Clitoraid was founded after Rael, spiritual leader of the International Raelian Movement, learned of a new surgical procedure that can restore the clitoris of genitally mutilated women. Clitoraid was his idea, and next March, in Burkina Faso, West Africa, we will open the world’s first hospital dedicated to providing this surgery for free, for any woman who wants it.”

Clitoraid’s medical staff is composed exclusively of volunteers.

“Volunteer surgeons like Dr. Marci Bowers and Dr. Harold Henning will go to Burkina Faso to launch this historical humanitarian mission,” Gary said. “Thanks to these doctors’ generosity and to modern science, FGM victims will regain the sense of physical pleasure they were so cruelly deprived of. Their dignity as women will finally be complete.”

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 165 million women and girls are now living with consequences of FGM. Although many are Africans, Gary pointed out that the problem is worldwide in scope.

“Although about 92 million FGM victims live in Africa, additional millions now live in the Americas and Europe as a result of immigration,” she explained., adding that the genital mutilation of innocent young girls and infants constitutes “an abomination totally against human rights.”

“Article One of the Universal Charter of Human Rights says all human beings are born free and equal in their rights and dignity,” Gary pointed out. “That means the integrity, dignity and autonomy of their physical bodies, including their sexual organs, must never be violated against their will.”

On Nov. 9 & 10, The Belgium Clitoraid team participated on the Fairy Tales Fair in Hasselt, Belgium. Monica Marcucci, responsible for the Netherlands and Flemish Belgium who organized the event recalls:

"We really enjoyed to have our stand surrounded by elves, fairies and dragons which the theme of the fair... The purpose of our team was to bring awareness to the plight of FGM victims and to inform people about Clitoraid’s actions. We distributed 2000 leaflets, while selling Belgian pralines in a “1€ for charity” campaign so that we could raise funds for allowing mutilated women to receive free clitoris restoration surgeries.

As responsible, I had an interview with the organizers of the fair that will go online to promote the event. Furthermore, Clitoraid’s stand was honored to receive the visit of the Belgian Welterweight professional boxer “Sugar Jackson”, of Ghanaian descent, who appeared very touched by the FGM problem.

All our gratitude goes to the organizers Nicole Martens and Rudy Verhaegen for their support, sponsoring and help, by having us as habitual guests at their fairs. The next appointment is planned for Antwerp on 22/23rd of February 2014."

Letter to Norbert Aleman, Producer of the Show Crazy Girls in Las Vegas concerning their offer to donate money to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which they refused.

Dear Norbert Aleman,

I was shocked to learn that Susan G. Komen’s Breast Cancer Foundation has rejected your proposed donation of funds from a special anniversary performance.

I am the Director of Clitoraid, a Las Vegas-based, non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that assists victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and I would be very honored and pleased to accept your donation.

Your generosity could make a crucial difference in the lives of those we assist!

Clitoraid (www.clitoraid.org) helps FGM victims obtain a new surgical procedure that rebuilds the mutilated clitoris, making it possible for victims to experience for the first time in their lives the physical pleasure most people take for granted. We are also working toward the worldwide elimination of female genital cutting, a barbaric custom that causes unbelievable suffering. It’s typically performed without anesthesia on young girls who are powerless to resist. They endure unspeakable agony from the mutilation and then suffer lifelong effects.

That’s where Clitoraid comes in. With help from people like you, we can reverse the devastating damage wrought by FGM. Our goal is to provide the needed surgery, plus pre-surgical and post-surgical counseling, free of charge to any woman who wants it.

Next year, in Burkina Faso, West Africa, we will open the world’s first dedicated clinic for FGM victims. Hundreds of women are eagerly awaiting the procedure, and thanks to our dedicated volunteer surgeons and staff, they will be able to have the clitoral reconstructive surgery free of charge.

Although construction of the new facility is in its final phases, we need additional funds for surgical equipment, medications and supplies. And once this clinic officially opens its doors, we’ll be planning a second one…and a third.

At our Web site, , you’ll find photos of our new clinic, testimonials from FGM victims we’ve helped, and articles explaining our humanitarian mission.

Your donation to Clitoraid could really change lives! And in our mutual celebration of women’s sensuality and the female body, “Crazy Girls” and Clitoraid would be a perfect match.

I look forward to your reply!

Very sincerely,

Nadine Gary,
Clitoraid Director of Communications

On October 3rd, Clitoraid Korea launched the campaign "Please help Africa women" on Insadong, a famous street in Korea.

A promotion of the "Pleasure hospital" and a fundraising took place at the same time.
in a festive atmosphere with balloons and T-shirts to attract the public.

Clitoraid spokesperson, Jina cause presented the cause on the microphone to the public while 30 volunteers both from Clitoraid and the Raelian Movement passed out hundreds of balloons and leaflets.

Many people accompanied by children donated money in the Clitoraid collection box.

We want to thank the Korean population for their generous donation. This is all the more meaningful because FGM cause is not very well known in Korea.

Thank you to our PR team for writing an effective Press Release that helped spread the news to the Korean media and specifically the newspaper Kokminilbo and Newsis (Internet news) that both published articles about Clitoraid's Korean Festival.