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Somalia activist Safia Abdi Haase gets Norway medal | Somalia activist Safia Abdi Haase gets Norway medal |
(8 months later) | |
A Somali-born campaigner against female genital mutilation (FGM), Safia Abdi Haase, has become the first immigrant woman to receive Norway's prestigious order of St Olav. | A Somali-born campaigner against female genital mutilation (FGM), Safia Abdi Haase, has become the first immigrant woman to receive Norway's prestigious order of St Olav. |
Ms Haase was given the order at the Royal Palace in Oslo for her work for women and children. | Ms Haase was given the order at the Royal Palace in Oslo for her work for women and children. |
She fled Somalia for Norway with her three daughters in 1992. | She fled Somalia for Norway with her three daughters in 1992. |
She said her campaigning was based on her experiences of domestic abuse and female genital mutilation. | She said her campaigning was based on her experiences of domestic abuse and female genital mutilation. |
"I have been a victim of all types of violence and my fight against this violence is using my own story," she told the BBC. | "I have been a victim of all types of violence and my fight against this violence is using my own story," she told the BBC. |
As well as genital mutilation, forced marriage, domestic violence and poverty, she said she had endured trafficking. | As well as genital mutilation, forced marriage, domestic violence and poverty, she said she had endured trafficking. |
"I had to use my own body so that I could come out of Africa to come to Europe to give my three daughters life without violence," she said. | "I had to use my own body so that I could come out of Africa to come to Europe to give my three daughters life without violence," she said. |
Ms Haase had no formal education when she arrived in Norway. She put herself through primary and secondary schools, eventually obtaining a university degree in nursing. | Ms Haase had no formal education when she arrived in Norway. She put herself through primary and secondary schools, eventually obtaining a university degree in nursing. |
Working with Norwegian charity Amathea, she became a passionate campaigner against FGM. | Working with Norwegian charity Amathea, she became a passionate campaigner against FGM. |
She has helped formulate the Norwegian government's action plan against FGM and is regarded as an ambassador in the drive to combat violence against women. | She has helped formulate the Norwegian government's action plan against FGM and is regarded as an ambassador in the drive to combat violence against women. |
She also works on a national board to combat racism and promote understanding between different cultures. | She also works on a national board to combat racism and promote understanding between different cultures. |
Correction:An earlier version of this story said Ms Haase was the first African woman to be knighted. |