Soraya Miré

Presents her documentary film

Fire Eyes

With Lectures and Talk Circles

Soraya Miré, internationally known Activist and award winning Filmmaker, comes to you to expand her mission to end violence toward women and children.  Founder of Persistent Productions, creator of socially conscious films and literature that highlight globally significant women’s issues, Ms. Miré is available to lecture, lead talk circles and present her film, Fire Eyes, a documentary on female genital mutilation (FGM). 

Soraya Miré, a native of Somalia, was herself a child survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM), an ancient rite of passage sometimes known as female circumcision.  More than 100 million women living today have undergone this painful ritual where portions of young girls’ genitals are cut off and the remaining tissue stitched closed, except for a very small hole for fluids to barely pass through.  The effects of this ritual are physical and emotional pain, with potential complications of infections, bleeding and possibly death.  Long-term physical effects can include complications in childbirth, chronic pelvic pain, scar tissue plus retention of urine and menstrual blood.  Female Genital Mutilation is practiced within some cultural groups in Africa, also the Middle East, Indonesia, Pakistan and India.  This custom is spreading in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States as immigrants embrace their traditional customs when they move into new territories.  In the United States, an estimated 168,000 girls have undergone the procedure or are still at risk and…. the number is growing.

Ms. Miré’s powerful voice of truth speaks for those who have no voice; “We’re not here to condemn the people, but to condemn the act.  It’s a human rights issue.  Let’s protect and give choices to the children.”  She has demonstrated her persistence as she brings awareness, education and changes in policies and laws regarding the practice of FGM.  Ms. Miré has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and Nightline with Ted Koppel.  She has lectured at Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Morehouse College, UCLA.  She has stood before committees at the United Nations, the U.S. Senate Human Resources and Health Assembly, the World Health Organization.  She has worked with medical professionals, government officials, with women and families who have been affected by FGM, all in her tireless pursuit of protection of human rights for women and girls.

Soraya Miré’s acclaimed documentary, Fire Eyes, has been heralded as a powerful and globally important award winning film.  It has been featured at film festivals around the world and the film’s noted awards include Human Rights Award at the United Nations; Best Documentary- Mandela Award by John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Human Rights Award at the University of Maryland and Best Documentary at Cairo’s World Population Conference.  Ms. Miré is in pre-release stages of her new autobiographical book, The Girl With Three Legs, in which she tells her embracing story of betrayal and pain, healing and triumph as a 13 year old survivor of FGM and shares over 30 years of recovery, healing and the indomitable power of the soul.

“After spending 12 years making the documentary, I realized how fortunate I am that I’ve been given a platform to speak the truth.  I speak for those who have no voice.  With artistic truth, I bring their stories to life.  As a survivor of the most horrendous act of betrayal, pain and ultimate child abuse of female genital mutilation, I still seek to share the story of those who have been forgotten.  It is a pivotal story, unveiling man’s historic shame and serves as a catalyst for healing a wound that transcends the physical, a psychological wound – a scar of betrayal.  It is a soul wound.  It gives voice to 135 million women, worldwide, who have suffered female genital mutilation (FGM).  My aim is to continue the dialogue….” 

Ms. Mire' is "Available" for bookings for presentations, lectures and talk circles. If your school, organization or community group would like to host Ms. Miré with a presentation of her film, Fire Eyes, please contact us for additional booking information.

“My work symbolizes the quiet hidden struggle of women who have been tortured. For so long, as women, we have been allowed to look into the mirror

but never allowed to see the true reflection of ourselves.

I will not stop until FGM ends.” 

- Soraya Miré