February 6th is the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, a day designed to promote the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting by 2030 through efforts to engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. The United Nations calls on the global community to reimagine a world that enables girls and women to have voice, choice, and control over their own lives.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is the altering or injuring or removal of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons to control a girl’s sexuality and make her acceptable for marriage and to the community in which she lives. It is usually performed on young girls between the ages of birth and puberty. It is an extreme form of gender-based violence that is recognized as a human rights violation and a form of torture.

The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) of the General Assembly along with the CT Coalition To End FGM/C (survivor-led coalition) are working on building holistic solutions to support survivors and prevent future generations of girls in the State of Connecticut from experiencing FGM/C. We are working with a diverse coalition of stakeholders, advocating for comprehensive legislation that will help protect girls from FGM/C, provide survivors with support services, raise awareness of the harm FGM/C causes, and educate frontline professionals on how to provide culturally specific and sensitive care.

"While the State of Connecticut has a robust community of advocates and people with lived experience working to end this form of gender-based violence, the state has been an outlier in its silence among its neighbors and in the nation. This comprehensive legislation would ensure that CT join our sister states in protecting children from
harm." Steven Hernández, Executive Director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity.

"As a long time, Connecticut resident, I am heartened by Governor Lamont's proclamation about International Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM/C as it sends the message that a harmful cultural practice that people think only happens far away from here, is actually occurring in our state. This acknowledgement is the first step in eliminating this practice. I look forward to strong support of the bill to end FGM/C and protect parents and their daughters from the pressure to cut and be cut." Zehra Patwa, FGM/C Activist/Survivor and Co-founder of WeSpeakOut and member of the Coalition.

About the CWCSEO: The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity under Sec. 105. Section 2-127 of the Connecticut General Statutes to focus on issues affecting each of the following underrepresented and underserved populations: Women, children and the family, elderly persons, African American, Asian Pacific Americans, and Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Focus its efforts and quality of life to the above-mentioned populations to assure that all are healthy, safe and achieve educational success; free from poverty; and free from discrimination. As a non-partisan arm of the General Assembly, the commission monitors, critiques and recommends changes to legislation. As a non-partisan arm of the General Assembly, the agency monitors, critiques and recommends changes to legislation. The commission serves as a liaison between government and its diverse constituents, and convenes stakeholders, including the business, non-profit and educational communities, local governments, and the media, to promote awareness.

View the official press release here.

On Monday, January 30th at 10:30am PST, SB 5453 concerning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) will be called for a hearing by the Washington state Law and Justice Committee. The bill, which was only introduced on January 18th, aims to: create a private right of action for survivors of FGM/C; prohibit providers from performing FGM/C on a minor; establish education and outreach initiatives to prevent FGM/C; provide care for victims and families of FGM/C.

If you live in Washington or have expertise on FGM/C, here are ways to voice support for the passage of legislation:

1. Provide oral testimony during the hearing either in-person or virtually by signing up here. 
2. Submit written testimony with this link. Please note that written testimony is due within 24 hours after the hearing.
3. Vote in support of the bill without providing any oral or written testimony here.
4. Sign this Change.org petition created by Abid and Maryum Saifee (this can be done in combination with any of the other options).

For more information, take a look at the Washington Coalition’s factsheet to learn more about this bill and its significance.

Statement from the Washington Coalition:

We are a newly formed Coalition working to end the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the State of Washington. We comprise a broad group of survivors, stakeholders and advocates. Forty US States have laws banning the practice of FGM/C. Washington has yet to address this important human rights issue in any manner. This proposed legislation SB 5453 under review today is a good first step towards ending the practice and supporting survivors in Washington State.

Review the Washington Coalition’s factsheet to learn more about this bill and its significance. Additionally, in case you missed the hearing, click here to watch! 

By Mohammad Chappalwala 

Gender-based violence takes many forms. One of the most extreme, I think, is female genital cutting/mutilation (FGM/C), which causes harm to the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society. Being a male member of a community that practices this, I believe it is my responsibility to spread awareness regarding this harm that is often done to seek control of the sexuality of women. 

On 26th December, 2022, Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics incorporated FGM/C into its Nayi Dishayein workshop, a 12-day course educating youth from across India on a wide range of issues, from development and the confines of patriarchy to environmental conservation and sustainable living. We, along with our participants, challenged our beliefs, views, convictions, and privilege resulting from the enduring power structures that stem from the social markers of caste, gender, religion, and class; and how they are linked with the notion(s) of development.

We began with a brief introduction to the practice of FGM/C, and discussed the different types practiced within different communities around the world. We looked at this form of gender-based violence through the lens of patriarchy, and examined how patriarchy enables gender violence, controls the sexuality of women and other genders, and expects conformity. After this, we issued a trigger warning and screened the movie, A Pinch of Skin for our participants. The film was followed by a short presentation detailing the practice of FGM/C and its categorization as a human rights violation by the World Health Organization. 

I find the fact that male members of my community are either unaware of FGM/C, or choose to stay away from the cutting of their loved ones, to be deeply unsettling. My community is the Dawoodi Bohra community, where this practice is exercised discreetly – nobody talks about it. Usually, the mother and grandmother of the child decide to take her to a local practitioner, who gets the job done. Often these practitioners are not even medically trained. 

In 2019, my team and I had the opportunity to attend Sahiyo’s FGM/C retreat and learn from Dr. Sheroo Zamindar, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Ahmedabad. With this knowledge base and our own learning, we were able to educate participants of this recent session on FGM/C, which is what we believe to be a crucial part of any discussion chronicling gender-based violence. This February 6th, International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, we, as male allies, must wholeheartedly commit to becoming pioneers in the conversation to end this practice and protect those we love. 

Mohammad Chappalwala is an autodidact environmentalist who left his corporate job and the hustle of the city to live in the mountains and work for the community. He is passionate about contributing to social movements that deal with the fundamental rights of the people, and strongly believes in the work of Sahiyo; he likes to provide complete support to stop FGM/C as a Bhaiyo, or male ally. He is a programs convener at Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics, Himachal Pradesh.

Portuguese/English Version

O Amor-próprio é
voltar à tua infância, 
e enfrentar os monstros na cara.
É dizer em alto e bom som,
já basta.
É fazer das tuas entranhas,
poesia deliberada.
É permitir-te existir sem atalhos,
nem rimas que outros compõem para ti. 

Self-love is the first step
to collective-love.
We need them both.
The self- without -love,
is empty.
While -love without self-
is meant to be revolutionary,
is enhancing one's spiritual growth.

O amor-próprio practica-se com autocuidado,
e cuidados colectivos.
Desejo pois muitos cuidados ao mundo!
Que os cuidados sejam políticos para não serem misericordiosos, caritativos, acomodados,
selectivos, utilitaristas, interesseiros ou indulgentes.
Que os cuidados sejam mútuos, recíprocos, comunitários, universais, deliberados, imparciais,
incondicionais e solidários! 

"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of poltical warfare". (Audre Lorde)

English version

Self-love is
going back to your childhood,
and facing the monsters in the face.
It's saying it loud and clear,
enough.
It is to make of your entrails,
deliberate poetry.
It's allowing yourself to exist without shortcuts,
nor rhymes that others compose for you.

Self-love is the first step
to collective-love.
We need them both.
The self-without-love,
is empty.
While -love without self-
is meant to be revolutionary,
is enhancing ones spiritual growth.

Self-love is practiced with self-care,
and collective care.
I therefore wish us all much collective care!
Care should be political not to be merciful, charitable, accommodating,
selective, utilitarian, self-serving or indulgent.
May care be mutual, reciprocal, communal, universal, deliberate, impartial,
unconditional and supportive!

Today, on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, Sahiyo is proud to release our program impact report, Bhaiyo: A Male Ally Initiative to Support Ending Female Genital Cutting. The report spans the duration of our Bhaiyo program, from its creation in February 2021 through December 2022, and covers our challenges, lessons learned, and future paths for growth. 

Bhaiyo, meaning ‘male friends’ or ‘brothers’ in Bohra Gujarati, was launched to create a space where male allies can collaborate, spark dialogue, and spread information about the harms of female genital cutting (FGC). In particular, Bhaiyo participants work by engaging communities at the grassroots level to address and build awareness of the harmful nature of this practice and its consequences on their loved ones and the community in general. 

Since the program’s launch: 

• 15 men joined the Bhaiyo program

• 13,247 people engaged with our public awareness campaigns

• 36 people participated in our public awareness campaigns

• 176 people attended Bhaiyo male-engagement webinars

• 28 blog posts written to uplift the voices of male activists

• 81.3% of members have joined additional programming efforts after joining Bhaiyo

February 6th is a day for activists, advocates, and stakeholders to come together, raise awareness, and advocate for the end of FGC. Today, and for the rest of the month of February, we’re uplifting the work of Bhaiyo because we’re proud of the program’s accomplishments. We hope you’ll take the time to learn more about how we’ve been engaging men in the work to support survivors and prevent FGC for future generations.

We also have an upcoming Bhaiyo event that is open to the public!

Date: Thursday, February 23rd

Time: 9:00 am EST (New York) / 7:30 pm IST (India)

Who: Current Bhaiyo members & Prospective Bhaiyo members (anyone interested in supporting male engagement on the topic of ending FGC)

Register: bit.ly/BhaiyoCommMeeting

To join our Bhaiyo program, please fill out this application form. 

By Olachi Nwagwu

What does self-love mean to you? 

In bell hooks' book All About Love, she defines love as an action, not a feeling. She explores love as a combination of "trust, commitment, care, respect, knowledge, and responsibility." So based on this, my definition of self-love would be that combination of trust, commitment, care, respect, knowledge and responsibility towards myself.

How do you practice self-love? 

I practice self-love by taking care of my physical, psychological, spiritual, professional, and social health through activities such as exercise, hobbies, meditating, taking breaks from work, and spending time with people I care about. These especially help in building my self-esteem, which in turn builds my self-love.

Why do you think self-care is important? 

I think self-care is important because it helps maintain our overall well-being. I consider my self-care in five categories: physical, psychological, spiritual, professional, and social. I find that a combination of any care under these five categories helps me build and maintain my self-love.

Why do you think it is important to practice self-love? 

I believe it is important to practice self-love because it helps cultivate a healthy sense of self-worth, self-responsibility, and self-acceptance. 

How do you encourage yourself and your peers to practice self-care and self-love?

I try to inspire myself and others to prioritize self-care and self-love by setting an example of self-care and self-love in my own actions, emphasizing the significance of looking after oneself, and sharing information and suggestions for self-care activities. 

From your perspective, what is the connection between body image and self-love? (how are they related?)

I strongly believe there is a close relationship between self-love and body image, as the way an individual views their body can significantly affect their overall self-esteem. In the current society we live in, it is essential to cultivate a positive body image and to understand that self-worth is not solely determined by appearance.

What is one thing you did for yourself today?

One thing I did for myself today was go shopping with my roommate. This helped me relax and not feel overwhelmed or rushed by work or school.

When do you think it is most important to practice self-love?

It is most important to practice self-love when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, as it can help cope with difficult emotions and situations better. It can also help make better decisions in the moment when you've taken a step back and evaluated everything.

Do you have any New Year's resolutions on how to love yourself better this month and the rest of the year?

I think this question can be answered with another quote from bell hooks' book All About Love: 

"Self-acceptance is hard for many of us. There is a voice inside that is constantly judging, first ourselves and then others. That voice enjoys the indulgence of an endless negative critique. Because we have learned to believe negativity is more realistic, it appears more real than any positive voice. Once we begin to replace negative thinking with positive thinking, it becomes utterly clear that, far from being realistic, negative thinking is absolutely disenabling. When we are positive we not only accept and affirm ourselves, we are able to affirm and accept others."

Therefore, one of my New Year's resolutions is to make an effort in prioritizing self-care and self-love daily, particularly through affirmations.