'I have to live with this all my life': Dorset woman speaks out about FGM
Salimata spoke to our Social Affairs Correspondent Christine Alsford - click below to hear her story
Interviewees: Salimata Badji Knight & Emily Wilcox, FGM Helpline Practitioner, NSPCC
A woman from Dorset has spoken out about her experience of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to prevent others from suffering.
It comes on International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, where communities across the world are calling for a zero tolerance approach to the practice.
Salimata Badji Knight was four when she was taken to Senegal for what she thought was a family holiday.
It took on a much more sinister purpose.
Salimata and dozens of other girls underwent an abusive ritual which left her confused and frightened.
She was threatened to keep quiet.
FGM was made illegal in the UK more than 30 years ago.
It is also against the law to take girls abroad for the practice to be carried out, with a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison.
Despite this, for 30 years there was not a single successful prosecution, but on February 1 the courts saw the first conviction for FGM.
Salimata Badji Knight says it's a landmark victory.
Salimata has waived her right to anonymity to encourage more people to work together to stop FGM.
It was not until Salimata was much older that she finally confided in a school friend and really began to understand what had happened to her.
She has since become a campaigner.
Salimata's first language is French but she has learned English to help bring her message to a wider audience.
Salimata will never be a mother because of the after effects of what happened that day.
But she says she will not give up until she sees an end to FGM, which all communities need to understand is wrong.
A dedicated NSPCC helpline - 0800 028 3550 - has received thousands of calls since being launched.
It offers advice, information and support to anyone concerned that a child's welfare is at risk because of female genital mutilation.