After being subjected to the horrors of female genital mutilation as a child, this mother is today on a mission to help stop Tyneside girls from suffering.
Score of youngsters in Newcastle have been identified as being at potential risk of the barbaric practice, which is commonplace in some parts of world.
But although female genital mutilation (FGM) has been illegal in the UK for 30 years, there has never been a successful prosecution because so few women come forward.
Today the victim, who lives in Newcastle’s East End, has spoken out about her ordeal as she takes on the role of FGM community champion.
The 40-year-old, who underwent the practice as a child in Gambia, said: “I can’t remember exactly how old I was but I can absolutely remember the pain. It is one of those things you will never forget.”
In the part of Africa where she comes from, more than 90% of girls were subjected to the practice, which some cultures see as a way of preparing women for marriage, or a way of controlling a woman’s sex life.
However, after becoming a nurse she began to realise just how barbaric FGM was.
And since settling in the UK nine years ago with her family, she is determined to do all she can to stop other women suffering.
“Where I come from you just accepted it was something that happened,” she said. “But in the long run when you get married and have children it continues to affect you.
“You go through the pain and psychological trauma all your life. My pregnancies were very difficult.”
The woman, who the Chronicle has agreed not to name, is now working with Newcastle City Council’s Shine sexual health service to reach out to Tyneside women.
“I just want people to know that it is criminal,” she said. “The problem with FGM is that nobody talks about it.
“People shouldn’t be afraid of speaking out because the more we talk about the more people will be aware, and the better chance we have of the practice being stopped.”
The Crown Prosecution Service’s chief crown prosecutor for the North East, Gerry Wareham, said prosecutors in the region are trained and ready to deal with FGM cases should they be reported.
“If we are ever going to prosecute anyone we need victims to come forward,” he said.
“Our priority is to stop this happening. But at the same time we want to make it clear as a deterrent that it is a criminal offence.”
Those convicted of carrying out FGM could be jailed for up to 15 years.
Mr Wareham added: “We want to make sure victims are aware that if they do come forward they will be treated sensitively and supported.
“We know how difficult it would be to come forward, but we have got people specially trained in the nature of the offence.”
Estimated figures suggest more than 160 girls under the age of 15 living in Newcastle may be at risk.
Roya Tazaee, a community development worker at Shine, has heard anecdotal evidence of girls being taken out of the country to undergo FGM.
“We know that it is practised here and women in the North East are suffering the effects of it,” she said. “We want to eradicate it in the next generation.”
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