Dear friends, As you will be all too aware, despite everything we have yet to see a successful FGM prosecution in the UK. I hope therefore that we can increase the support for this petition now, as the new political season begins. If you could now ask more people to sign this petition, that would be really appreciated. We can hope more signatures might even remind decision-makers, as they plan the forthcoming political year, of what needs to be done.... Also, I have an urgent request: You will know that prohibition of FGM in Sierra Leone has been enforced as part of the strategy to prevent public events during the Ebola epidemic. Happily, there is now a good chance that the epidemic has been stopped, but with this comes the very likely prospect of the FGM ceremonies starting again, and then girls who have so far been spared will be harmed. So could you please support the e-petition below as well, in the hope that we can prevent FGM being inflicted on more girls in Sierra Leone? We have here a brief and unique opportunity to try respectfully to influence events.... To: Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State, DFID: ** Secure permanent prohibition of FGM in Sierra Leone. The 'Ebola ban' must not be reversed.** Thank you so much, and warm best wishes, Hilary Burrage Author of Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation: A UK Perspective (Ashgate, 2015) Web: www.hilaryburrage.com LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/hilaryburrage Twitter: @HilaryBurrage @NoFGM_UK Email: hilary.burrage@btconnect.com