The Face of Defiance

In 2015, photographer Jason Ashwood and campaigner Dr Leyla Hussein OBE started The Face of Defiance, a portrait project seeking to empower survivors of FGM. The project was exhibited in Washington DC, New York, London, and Senegal alongside being featured on TV and various media. 

The project seeks to broaden global public awareness by creating debate and understanding about FGM within westernised cultures and highlighting the stories of those within western societies who survive it. The Face of Defiance gives exposure to the rights of women, who should be empowered to speak out, seek support, and break the community cycle of FGM - issues that are so desperately difficult to overcome for women in affected communities.