Leyla Hussein

Leyla Hussein is a British-Somali psychotherapist and prominent activist dedicated to eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM). A survivor of the practice herself, she co-founded the Dahlia Project, a specialist counselling service for survivors, and the grassroots movement Daughters of Eve. Her advocacy combines therapeutic expertise with powerful public campaigning, influencing policy in the United Kingdom and internationally. Hussein's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including an OBE, and she is a frequent commentator on issues of gender-based violence and women's rights.

Early life and education

Leyla Hussein was born in 1980 in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, where she underwent female genital mutilation as a young child. Her family later moved to Saudi Arabia before seeking asylum in the United Kingdom when she was a teenager, settling in London. This transition exposed her to different cultural perspectives on women's health and bodily autonomy. She pursued higher education in the UK, earning a degree in psychotherapy and later specializing in supporting survivors of trauma and sexual violence. Her academic and professional training became the foundation for her future activism, equipping her with the clinical understanding to address the profound psychological impacts of FGM.

Career and activism

Hussein's career is defined by her multifaceted activism against female genital mutilation. In 2010, she co-founded the non-profit organization Daughters of Eve to protect girls at risk and support survivors. Recognizing a gap in specialist mental health care, she established the Dahlia Project in 2013, the UK's first dedicated counselling service for FGM survivors. Her advocacy extends to direct political engagement; she has given evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee and the United Nations, and her campaigning contributed to the introduction of mandatory FGM reporting duties for professionals in England and Wales. A pivotal moment was her 2013 documentary, The Cruel Cut, which sparked national conversation and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award. She also co-founded the #EndFGM Global Media Campaign, working with journalists across Africa to change the narrative around the practice.

Honors and recognition

For her services to tackling female genital mutilation, Leyla Hussein was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours. She has received several other prestigious awards, including the Black British Business Person of the Year award and being named a Harper's Bazaar Woman of the Year. Her work has been honored by institutions like the Goldsmiths University, which awarded her an honorary fellowship. In 2014, she was listed among the BBC's 100 Women and was also recognized as one of Women in the World's Leading Ladies.

Personal life

Leyla Hussein is a mother and has spoken about the profound impact motherhood had on her activism, strengthening her resolve to end female genital mutilation for future generations. She resides in the United Kingdom and is openly critical of cultural relativism when it comes to human rights abuses. Her personal experience as a survivor is central to her public voice, which she uses to challenge stigma and break the silence surrounding FGM in diaspora communities. She maintains strong connections with the global anti-FGM movement, collaborating with activists across Europe, Africa, and North America.

Selected works and media appearances

Hussein's 2013 television documentary, The Cruel Cut, produced for Channel 4, was a critically acclaimed work that brought the issue of female genital mutilation to a wide British audience. She is a regular contributor to major media outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, and Sky News, providing expert commentary on gender-based violence. She has participated in influential panel discussions at events like the Women of the World Festival and the Royal Society of Arts. Her advocacy and story have been featured in international publications such as The New York Times and on platforms like TEDx, where she delivers powerful talks on survivor-led activism.

Category:British activists Category:British psychotherapists Category:Anti-female genital mutilation activists Category:1980 births Category:Living people