9th Annual Human Rights Awards - People's Choice Contest

Nicole Williamson said:

I cannot think of anyone who deserves this honor more. I have browsed through all of the nominations and i have been touched by many of them. I truely feel that Lucy is special. She has endured the most horrific kind of violence against women. Female Genital Mutilation is not a cultural practice. It is not meant to be a medical practice. It is a way to control women's sexuality. It starts as young as birth, and the aftermath does more than scare her physically, it scars her mentally, emotionally and psychologically. A woman is not seen as worth of of marriage and is seen as promiscuous if she is not mutilated. If the girl/woman refuses, she is forever shunned by her community and her family. If she undergoes this torture, she is at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, never having children or having difficult childbirth, multiple health problems, and worse; dying. Lucy had to not only go through it, but she had to leave her children behind in order to have a chance. She had to leave everything she ever knew. It was a true blessing when she was finally reunited with them. She devotes her life to saving lives and helping women who have undergone this genocide. To honor her with this award would bring this to the attention of the world. That is what we want. We want the world to see how women are being treated. Please judge based on the comments, not so much by how many votes. She deserves this, and so do all of the women that have died and continue to be affected.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL YOU WHO VOTED AND LEFT SOME GREAT COMMENTS, I WAS CONTACTED 5 DAYS AGO THAT I WAS A NOMINEE AND WITHIN THOSE FIVE DAYS WE GOT OVER 200 VOTES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICES MY HEROES BECAUSE YOU KNOW One wound to one of us,is a wound to all of us. And that is true HUMAN RIGHTS!!

Rashima Jain Sobti said:

It is easy to say Female Genital Mutilation , but no one but the victims can actually understand the PAIN behind these words .Most of these victims are too young to even know the meaning of the word.When we cut our finger accidentally we go crazy trying to stop the bleeding and feel pain ,but we can put an antiseptic and bandage it and take a pain killer and soon it would heal.Now imagine a blunt knife or an old scissor or an old blade ,and all these have been used on others before and never sterilized being USED on young Innocent girls to cut their GENITALS,without any antiseptic or any painkiller. She is just held down tight and can just shout from the pain while the Mutilator goes on cutting with the blunt equipment ,can you imagine the HORROR.Then thorns are used to sew up the opening which is only as big as one finger .Her legs are tied together so that the wound can heal and she is then made to lie on the floor in an isolated hut. Now Imagine when she gets up after the mutilation she is standing in a big pool of her own blood ,some dont survive this ordeal .HOW HORRIFIC A CRIME IS THIS ?.Lucy is a survivor and has vowed to help Girls fight this Mutilation ,it is what her whole life is about .We need to support her in this fight or otherwise every day girls will go under the knife or would lose their life .The world needs to see this and hear this ,FGM needs to come on the CENTER STAGE for the world to know what is happening to young girls the world over and NO this is not a Religious custom that we can look away from and say we should not interfere .I appeal to the judges that Lucy is a very deserving Nominee who does not just SAVE GIRLS,BUT SAVES LIVES.We need to help her so that she continues to help these Girls who have no one to turn to .We pray everyday that Lucy can save every Girl who is at risk of Mutilation but somedays there is bad news and Lucy feels the guilt of not being able to save a Girl or cries when one who she could not save is Mutilated .I can only imagine how Lucy lives through this Horror on a daily basis as it must remind her constantly of her own ordeal ,we all do not like being reminded of any horror we may have experienced in our life but Lucy is Strong And Committed and she will be for the rest of her life .

Kiano Simon said:

We pray for you and your family...thanks for making the difference in the world. The world is a better place because of passionate people like you!

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Ling is the least thing I can do....I paid the price and i swore when I was 9 years old to always raise my voice until someone who cares enough to help in taking action, I have kept my promise which led me to leave my home ,leave my kids and family. the first thing I did after my arrival I got medical attention and I get stronger, healthier everyday and last year I was reunited with my babies.:)

Ling Mollenkopf said:

You are a like a mother in educating the public, to save our girls and women and babies from continued suffering that is an ultimate human rights violation. I thank you!

Ling Mollenkopf said:

You are a like a mother in educating the public, to save our girls and women and babies from continued suffering that is an ultimate human rights violation. I thank you!

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

babies born to women who have undergone female genital mutilation suffer a higher rate of neonatal death compared with babies born to women who have not undergone the procedure. end in stillbirth or spontaneous abortion, and in a further 25% the newborn has a low birth weight or serious infection, both of which are associated with an increased risk of perinatal death..
Mashua Against FGM I can testify under oath that majority of women who have undergone FGM have lost one or two babies at birth:( had miscarriage , or died giving birth:(. believe me this is a BIG CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. That is why you have to vote one last day of our 5 day voting to bring this crime to the HUMAN RIGHTS WORLD!! Via http://www.facebook.com/MashuaAgainstFGM

Hema Harrymungal-Bedasie said:

Judges, please let Mashua win this. Not just for herself, but for the countless girls and women who are forcibly mutilated. I cannot even begin to imagine what our sisters who suffer through FGM have to endure. This definition of FGM from Kurdmedia.com is chilling - "The age the procedure is carried out varies from just after birth to some time during the first pregnancy, but most cases occur between the ages of four and eight. Most times this procedure is done with out the care of medically trained people, due to poverty and lack of medical facilities. The use of anesthesia is rare. The girl is held down by older women to prevent the girl from moving around. The instruments used by the mid-wife will vary and could include any of the following items; broken glass, a tin lid, razor blades, knives, scissors or any other sharp object. These items usually are not sterilized before or after usage. Once the genital area for removal is gone, the child is stitched up and her legs are bound for up to 40 days. This procedure can cause various side effects on the girls which can include death. Some of the results of this procedure are serious infections, HIV, abscesses and small benign tumors, hemorrhages, shock, clitoral cysts. The long term effects may also include kidney stones, sterility, sexual dysfunction, depression, various urinary tract infections, various gynecological and obstetric problems. In order to have sexual intercourse the women have to be opened up in some fashion and in some cases cutting is necessary. After child birth some women are re-infibulated to make them (tight) for their husbands".

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Thanks Annette I gave up my all left the only home I knew, I was separated from my children for four years, and whether I win or not I will keep on the fight as I have done for 12yrs. we learned about this 2 days ago and you are all doing your best by voting am really humbled.

Annette Dillon said:

Stopping Female Genital Mutilation is an atrocity, like the holocaust. This women goes down in history for her courage in fighting FGM.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Ma sœur tigre je vous remercie beaucoup. Restez bien et laissez-nous continuer à se battre.@Erika thank you for helping me with your Human Rights Group three years ago to launch our Mashua Against Fgm campaign officially globally .

Erika Purdy said:

Clarisse, vous êtes très gentiles! Lucy, you are definitely one of my heroes.

Clarisse Fournier said:

J'invite «fortement» mes amis Facebook à voter pour mon amie Lulu Mashua pour le human rights award. Il ne vous en coûte qu'un «clic» (vraiment pas cher) pour aider à faire avancer la cause contre l'excision (mutilations génitales féminines). Cette pratique barbare est malheureusement encore le lot de certaines jeunes filles qui brisera leur vie sexuelle à jamais, causera des troumatismes psychologiques et physiques et en mènera d'autre jusqu'à la mort. Il n'est pas normal encore qu'en 2011 nous soyons les témoins innocents de l'excision qui ne devrait plus exister depuis des lunes! C'est une attaque à l'identité profonde de ces femmes, qui ne vise que le «contrôle» de leur être tout entier. Merci à ceux qui votent. Lulu, je te souhaite le meilleur dans cette cause qui te tient à coeur et tu fais un des meilleurs porte-étendard pour cette cause. xx

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216797258336197

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

http://www.lindamaykallestein.com/Linda_May_Kallestein/Blog/Entries/2011...

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Lilac(hoiyo) Thank you baby girl.

lilac leuda said:

God bless you for the good and incrediable job ur doing and may he also give you more strength to continue doing it we love pal and tottally surport u in prayers lulu.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Doreen thank you so much it is my joy to represent voiceless innocent lives and be a voice for them.

Doreen Smith-Melillo said:

Blessings to you for making an impact and giving of yourself for this important fight. You chose to use your suffering to transform the suffering of others into hope. You are hope for so many, what an incredible thing to be. Thank You.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Ooh Nicole my sister how am I suppose to follow what you just wrote?...Am humbled and I promise to always fight and stand with people who are true to this cause...not talkers but doers. thank you God bless.

Nicole Williamson said:

My saving grace, my heroine, my inspiration. Words alone are not enough to express the deep gratitude and the respect i have for you. To know many women of my family suffered, died and continue to endure this horrific practice haunts and hurts me everyday. Now, to know i have the power as a young african woman to speak out for them and for the women of Sierra Leone, it gives me so much to celebrate, so much strength, so much passion, and i will never give up the fight. Lucy helped me see what i truely possess within me. The people of Sierra Leone may be against me for being outspoken, but she has always been by my side. I cannot stand by and let this continue. It makes my heart heavy with joy to know i have not only a warrior for God on my side, but a warrior for the rights of women everywhere on the battlefield with me. Lucy is a survivor, a fighter, a mother, an activist, God's personal assistant in setting his greatest creations free from this sexual slavery. One day at a time, Lucy is showing that a woman's greatest enemy is other women, but with dedication, it can and will be reversed. We love you, cherish you, and graciously agree to take up arms with you in the most violent killer of women. With you, our voices will be heard. Screams will turn to shouts of praise. Bloodshed will turn to tears of joy. You make us proud to be women Lucy and i thank you so much for all you do. My sister; i love you and will never stop fighting.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Thanks Aalok for your heart towards the end of this atrocity!!. This nomination is important.

Aalok Chandra said:

this corruption of human civilization must be banished forever, This nomination is important simply for the reason that Semeiyan Lulu Mashua was a victim who survived and is acting for eliminating this degenerating inhuman and life crumbling practice.

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Dear Rashima my sister for life you are also one of many foot soldiers on my networking side, I say thank you am really honored and humbled, This video helps me keep on moving after four years of separation from my own children because I chose this path. Thank you for being there
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7285791

Rashima Jain Sobti said:

LUCY MY DEAR SISTER YOU ARE AN ANGEL SENT FROM THE HEAVENS TO SAVE THE INNOCENT GIRLS FROM THE HORRIFIC TORTURE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION !!
Being A Victim/Lucky Survivor/Activist You Know The Pain And Suffering That These Girls Would Undergo For The Rest Of Their Lives .You have foot soldiers Rescuing These Girls ,You Provide Shelter for Them ,You Send Them What They Need And Above All You Have Made This Your Mission In Life . I Salute You.
The Pain And Suffering You Go Through Daily , The Operations You Have Gone Through ,Yet You Never Forget About These Innocent Girls And Even Weep And Pray For Them Each Day ,I Am So Honoured To Have You As A Sister For Life .One Day We WIll END FGM IN THIS WORLD !!!!

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Dear John I knew I was a nominee several hours ago and I am grateful for everyone who thought of me and thanks brother for your kind comment. I hope for more votes.

John Gagnier said:

It is through people such as yourself who inspire the rest of the world to abolish this truly horrendous act, that one day soon FGM will become only a ugly memory from our distant past!!

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua said:

Thank everyone for voting and kind comments.

Capt.Harjeet Singh said:

God bless you for your relentless effort..
Wish you good health to keep moving towards your goal....

Jeff Donovan said:

Semeiyan Lulu Mashua has been a beautiful and selfless friend for well over 18 months, often working tirelessly against this horrific societal disorder ... only known as "Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)." Being a victim herself she has suffered for many years of daily pain, some more excruciating than others though Semeiyan still battles toward the end of FGM.

She has risked her life several times to save the countless women and girls from the same fate of her and millions of other victims whom either survived (and permanently scarred for life) or died due to insanitary conditions and malpractice causing irreparable damage/untreated infections.

When asked where she acquires her persistence and motivation to eliminate FGM, she replied, "There is millions of young women and children who suffer everyday as a result of this barbaric cultural practice, and it is impossible to allow myself to rest, to know these innocent creatures of Gods creations are at risk of undergoing FGM. We must strive to cease this diseased atrocity otherwise the health and well being of our future generations lay at risk of undergoing Female Genital Mutilation."

Semeiyan has won my vote a hundred times around, knowing she is a very worthy and courageous citizen of Earth to be voted "The Human Rights Award Winner" in 2011.
May our Creator bless this fine person for everything she has done to this date. ~ Amen ~