News Center-Kurdish activist Payzee Mahmod, a survivor of child marriage and a victim of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), has been awarded this year’s Global Citizen Prize in the UK for her campaign aiming to end child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), virginity testing, and hymenoplasty in the United Kingdom.

Payzee Mahmod was forced into child marriage when she was 16. Payzee Mahmod managed to escape her child marriage. Her sister Banaz was also forced into child marriage. In 2006, Banaz was murdered by her family male members in the name of “honor” after she left her abusive marriage.

Payzee Mahmod, who is a campaigner for the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO), has been awarded this year’s Global Citizen Prize in the UK for her work with IKWRO working to end harmful practices, including child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), virginity testing, and hymenoplasty in the UK.

After being awarded, Payzee Mahmod wrote on her social media account, “I am thrilled to announce that I have been awarded the #GCPrize Citizen Award UK by @GlblCtznUK for my work with @IKWRO in supporting women and girls around the world, working to end harmful practices including child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) & more.”