Since its release, 1.4 million people have seen the movie Desert Flower in German speaking countries.

“This movie is the most powerful statement against FGM that I can think of” says Waris Dirie. “This is the only reason I agreed to have my book turned into a movie. I hoped that this movie would reach a lot of people, and that’s what happened, so I am very happy. If this movie does not change things, I don’t know what will.”

Through more than 200 interviews, Waris Dirie campaigned against FGM in the course of the promotion of the movie this year. Powerful channels like CNN (African Voices, Connect the World, the screening room), the BBC, ARD, ZDF, RTL, Sat 1, ORF, Stern, Brigitte, BILD, and others, helped spread Waris Dirie’s campaign to stop this cruel crime against innocent girls.

“I hope that politicians will finally wake up and do what they should have done a long time ago. I hope that this awareness campaign will help raise the money necessary to educate people of FGM and its consequences and to treat victims of FGM sensibly”.

Waris demands that performing FGM should be considered a grave crime in every country of the world, and should be investigated and punished accordingly.

“Such a crime should not exist in this world in the 21st century!”

Waris is currently promoting the movie all over the world. The movie will be released in 17 countries in February and March 2010. It will also be shown in many African countries. Waris Dirie will travel the world with this movie for the next two years. The Waris Dirie Foundation will complement the release in each country with a massive campaign against FGM.