Inna Lazareva
Breast Ironing in the UK, The Guardian
As a result of her investigation into the harmful practice of breast ironing, Inna became the first journalist to expose concrete evidence that the African ritualistic ‘tradition’ which involves the physical mutilation of pubescent girls also takes place unhindered on UK soil. Medical experts and victims regard it as a form of child abuse which could lead to physical and psychological scars, infections, inability to breastfeed, deformities and breast cancer. The UN describes it as one of five global underreported crimes relating to gender-based violence. The investigation led to more victims speaking out, triggered debates in parliament, and the Crown Prosecution Service changing its legal guidelines, with perpetrators now facing up to 10 years in prison.
Revealed: ‘dozens’ of girls subjected to breast-ironing in UK
Breast-ironing: ‘the whole community needs an education’
Breast-ironing is abuse and could lead to prison term, says CPS
