An Afternoon with Leyla Hussain OBE

LSBU continues its efforts to #BreakTheBias with a very special guest. Women suffered throughout the years from different forms of bias, discrimination, and violence. To continue recognizing efforts made against sexual and gender-based violence around the world, LSBU invites you to join us for an afternoon with Leyla Hussein OBE. Leyla Hussein is a Somali -born British psychotherapist and social activist. She works to shape practices on gender rights, mental health, and support for FGM survivors by advising policymakers. As a campaigner, Leyla advocates for human rights, specifically for the safety of women and children globally. She is the founder of the Dahlia project, to provide free access to therapeutic support and counselling for survivors of FGM, raise public awareness, inform best practices, and contribute to community education and empowerment. She is also the founder of Magool to promote the rights and wellbeing of women and girls and help them realise their full potential. Leyla also co-founded Safe Spaces for Black Women in 2020 to serve as a wellbeing platform for Black women affected by COVID-19, racism, patriarchy, the current political system, and mental health issues. In this space, therapists provide support and facilitate sessions in virtual meet-ups. In 2020, Leyla was elected Rector of the University of St Andrews, making her the third woman and first woman of colour to hold this position. This event was recorded on Zoom Pro on Monday, 4th April.