By: Sara Khattak

Recently, policy interns at Sahiyo have been interviewing members of the Washington Coalition to End FGM/C to learn more about coalition member’s important work toward creating policy on female genital cutting (FGC). Sahiyo’s policy intern, Sara Khattak, talked to coalition member Amie Kujabi, a prominent advocate in the work to end FGC.

Amie Kujabi, originally from The Gambia, has been involved in working to end violence against women since she was a teenager. Her personal experience as a survivor of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), has shaped her path as an advocate.

Amie's involvement with the Washington State Coalition began in late 2022, when her friend and former colleague Absa Samba introduced the group to her. Amie’s role within the coalition took on new significance when she gave testimony during hearings for Senate Bill 5453, which aimed to end FGM/C in Washington State.Amie believes that survivors’ testimonies are crucial in the policy-making process.

"When you look at it, there are people that have been affected by this harmful practice, and sharing your story also boosts the importance of why certain policies or actions need to be taken." 

By putting a face to the issue, survivor’s stories help lawmakers and the public understand that FGC is not just a theoretical problem but a real threat affecting lives in their communities.

While Amie has received overwhelming support for sharing her story, she's also faced some challenges from those trying to justify the practice. She emphasizes the importance of education and awareness, noting that many people, including some from practicing communities, don't fully understand the harmful effects of FGC.

Amie has observed significant progress in the work to end FGC, particularly in her home country of The Gambia, as well as  other African nations. She credits much of this progress to young people taking the lead in advocacy efforts against the practice. 

"Young people of our generation are actually taking the lead in trying to speak out and advocate for policy change... I believe that has really impacted where we are today." 

Amie stresses the need for strong, comprehensive policies that address both prevention and response. She emphasizes that laws against FGC not only protect those at risk but also provide avenues for survivors to share their stories and access necessary services.

"Both those at risk and the survivors have a huge advantage to benefit from the existence of these laws."

She highlighted the need for services like counseling and therapy for survivors, as well as education to combat misinformation rooted in cultural or religious beliefs about FGC.

Amie encourages more people to get involved in the work to end FGC, whether they're survivors or not. 

"You don't have to be a survivor to join the cause." 

She calls for greater collaboration and networking among organizations, recognizing that the issue of FGM/C intersects with many other social and health concerns.

For those considering sharing their own stories, Amie acknowledges the courage it takes but also the potential impact that survivors' stories can have. 

"It takes a lot of courage and discernment," she said, advising individuals to engage only when they feel comfortable and safe to do so.

As we continue the work to end FGC, Amie's parting message emphasizes the need for comprehensive support for survivors: 

"Prevention is important, responding is important, but the provision of services is equally important for survivors." 

By ensuring access to professional support services, we can encourage more survivors to come forward and join the cause.

Amie Kujabi's story is a powerful reminder of the impact one voice can have in the movement to end FGC. Through her advocacy and courage in sharing her personal experience, she is helping to shape policies and change lives. As we move forward, let us heed her call for greater involvement, improved services, and continued dedication to ending this harmful practice.

We extend our gratitude to Amie for her invaluable contributions and insights. To learn more about our ongoing work and other interviews, visit Sahiyo’s website.

To learn more about Amie and her journey, watch the video below.

On November 4, Sahiyo U.S. hosted a vibrant webinar titled: Youth Advocacy Against Female Genital Cutting (FGC): A Conversation on Change, where a global community of advocates, educators, medical professionals, and human rights advocates gathered to share experiences and strategies for change. The diversity of perspectives in attendance highlighted how broad the movement to end FGC is. We heard from students who are passionate about women’s health, professors seeking to educate themselves on FGC, and activists working directly in their communities to end this harmful practice. Attendees gathered from near and far, with some folks tuning in from the city of Chicago and others from Singapore! 

Panelists at the event shared how youth are uniquely positioned to challenge entrenched norms and misconceptions around FGC. One advocate emphasized the importance of research and access to resources in academic institutions. Another spoke on the power of intergenerational engagement, highlighting how each generation brings unique strengths to the movement. Addressing the diverse cultural landscape, a third panelist discussed the significance of incremental progress in regions where FGC is deeply rooted in community social norms, stressing that every step forward, no matter how small, contributes to broader change.

As one attendee described, the stories that were shared among the group were “beautiful, heartbreaking, and powerful,” while others thanked the panelists for their “bravery in turning betrayal into action.”

For those who couldn’t join, here is a link to the recording of the webinar. We encourage you to watch and reflect on this incredible event alongside us!

By Samman Masud

Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher attended the Global Collaboration to End FGM/C Conference in Washington D.C, a two-day event that brought together key stakeholders committed to ending female genital cutting worldwide from October 28-29, along with Community Engagement Coordinator Samman Masud as well as Advisory Board Members Nesha Abiraj and Absa Samba. Held at The George Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health, this gathering included participants from the international community and a diverse group of experts, including philanthropists, global regional FGM/C networks, U.S. government entities, civil society organizations and activists that work together to end FGM/C. The conference, which began with a networking event followed by intimate fireside chats and conversations with these partners sought to address a key challenge to progress in global FGM/C advocacy: the funding gap and significant lack of resources allocated to prevent and respond to violence against women, particularly FGM/C. 

Psychotherapist and Global Advocacy Director for The Girl Generation, Dr. Leyla Hussain, led the opening remarks. Dr. Wisal Ahmed, the Global Coordinator for the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM,  Susan Gibbs – Senior Advisor on Women’s Rights & FGM at Wallace Global Fund – and Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya – founder of Kakenya’s Dream – also welcomed attendees with speeches that recognized FGM/C as a pressing gender-based violence issue. They also portrayed it as an alarming public health crisis, bringing with it intersecting problems of child-marriage, human trafficking, and rising mortality rates between women and girls around the globe. 

A panel discussion moderated by Sahiyo’s Mariya Taher titled, “Current Global Efforts to End FGM/C”, included representatives from Asian, African, European, and the U.S. and Canadian regional networks, where participants discussed issues related to anti-FGM/C advocacy that were prevalent and specific to their communities. 

Conference attendees also watched a private screening of the short film, “The Beginning”, directed by Sahiyo Co-Founder Insia Dariwala. The film captures a mother’s trauma as a survivor of FGM/C, and her mission to stop family members from performing the same ritual on her daughter.

The fireside chats with philanthropists and civil society organizations were well received, with engaging conversations about barriers that halt progress in anti-FGM/C efforts on a global scale. In a concluding but critical closing session, all conference attendees participated in a group activity to further build out recommendations initially discussed at Women Deliver 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, on specifically funding grassroots FGM/C movements and organizations. Participants collaborated to brainstorm best practices for grantmaking in the sector that are inclusive and adaptable to the realities on the ground for activists and organizers. These recurring conversations involved the importance of long-term and sustainable funding to address FGM/C, and to drive policy changes and community-based solutions for survivors and at-risk communities.

Sahiyo U.S. invites you to join our upcoming training session: Prevention Efforts for FGM/C Across the Country on December 12, 2024 at 12-1:30 PM PT/ 3-4:30 PM ET.

This training was developed in collaboration with our project partners the U.S. End FGM/C Network, Mother Africa, and the Washington Department of Health, as part of our efforts to prevent and respond to FGM/C in Washington State. In this session we will delve into prevention programming and efforts on FGM/C in the United States. Our aim is to equip organizations, service providers, advocates, and community leaders with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks to best engage in preventing FGM/C.

Through this training we will uplift best practices and insights on prevention programming and provide individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to engage in effective and culturally sensitive prevention work. The training will also feature speakers from organizations that have successfully integrated prevention programming strategies into their work to stop FGM/C and save those who are at risk. 

By the end of the session, participants will:

• Be introduced to case studies of impactful prevention programs, showcasing key success factors and lessons learned
• Identify strategies for building cross-sector collaborations and partnerships
• Learn about best practices for engaging communities in prevention efforts

Register here!

Date: December 10, 2024 

Time: 4-5:30 PM PT/7-8:30 PM ET

Registration link: https://bit.ly/RegisterVoices24Screening 

On Tuesday, December 10th at 4-5:30 PM P.T./7-8:30 PM E.T., Sahiyo – in partnership with Asian Women’s Shelter and Silence Speaks – will host a screening of the newest set of Voices to End FGM/C digital stories, created by survivors of and advocates working to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). In addition to viewing these 10 new poignant stories, attendees will hear from some of the storytellers themselves about their experiences in the storytelling workshop and their work to end FGM/C. 

“It’s like we created our own community as we held space for one another while bearing witness to each other’s stories as they were told. I also appreciated and valued the accommodations made to ensure that all participants had the best possible experience. It’s things like this that made the workshop a special and meaningful space to be a part of. ”

- Musu Bakoto Sawo, Voices ‘24 Workshop Participant  

The Voices to End FGM/C program is a digital storytelling project created by Silence Speaks and Sahiyo that aims to mobilize a critical mass of survivors and activists from across the globe. Voices to END FGM/C brings people together to share and heal from their experiences of FGM/C, to connect and grow as leaders in their own communities, and to create short videos calling for an end to this harmful practice.

If you are interested in hosting a screening showcasing digital stories from Voices to End FGM/C with your own organization, with classmates, or with co-workers, check our new Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide! This is an  in-depth resource with discussion questions, FAQs, and event planning templates.    

For any questions related to this guide or our Voices program, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

On October 29, Sahiyo U.S. partnered with AshaKiran, an Alabama-based organization, to host a Female Genital Cutting 101: An Introduction to FGC training. AshaKiran is dedicated to supporting underserved communities in crises such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking born outside of the U.S.

This training focused on building foundational knowledge around FGC and its impact on women and girls both in the United States and globally. Led by Sahiyo’s Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator Aries Nuño, Volunteer Huda Syed, and Development Intern Elaina Baliner, the session addressed FGC as a form of gender-based violence (GBV) that remains largely hidden and perpetuated by silence within communities.

A key discussion point was Alabama’s unique position as one of the states without specific laws against FGC, emphasizing the importance of advocacy, policy change, and increased awareness in areas where legal protections for women and girls remain limited.

Participants explored the need for trauma-informed, culturally sensitive services, as well as the role of enhanced data, research, and community engagement to strengthen prevention, protection, and support for those at risk of FGC. Through an open and compassionate dialogue, attendees gained practical tools to approach FGC with empathy and understanding, underscoring the importance of informed conversations in order to foster change.

We are grateful to AshaKiran, our dedicated presenters, and all the participants for coming together to learn about the impact of FGC in the United States.