Join us on June 26th for an engaging and interactive session that offers a unique opportunity for dialogue and reflection surrounding the diverse narratives of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Through the powerful storytelling of our Voices to End FGM/C program, we will showcase a collection of authentic and compelling stories, each offering a glimpse into the lived experiences, resilience, and courage of individuals impacted by FGM/C.

Webinar details:

• Date:  Jun 26, 2024
• Time: 9-10AM Pacific / 12-1PM Eastern 
• Register: https://bit.ly/FGMCNarratives 

This session aims to foster understanding, empathy, and solidarity as we explore the multifaceted aspects of this issue. Together, let's listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations about the impact of FGM/C on individuals and communities. We invite you to bring your curiosity and questions, as we strive to create a safe and open environment for dialogue and reflection.

From the storytellers:

"I was so shocked when I found out that it still happens in some communities around the globe, including the one my sister and I were raised in." - Hatim (Listen)

"As of 2020, estimates are that at least 200 million women and girls have experienced female genital mutilation. This statistic makes me question if I, a trans-non-binary survivor of FGM, am real." - Dena (On Being A Non-Binary Survivor of FGM/C)

"I will never forget, and even if my mind did forget, my body cannot."- Somaya (Permanent Wound)

Don't miss this important event that brings to light the voices and stories of those who have been impacted by FGM/C. You participation contributes to a larger dialogue about human rights, gender equality, and the urgent need to end FGM/C. 

We look forward to seeing you there! Register today here.

In honor of Father’s Day 2024, Sahiyo’s male engagement program, Bhaiyo, is launching a public awareness campaign to uplift the importance of male voices and allies in ending female genital cutting or FGC. Recognizing that FGC is a community health issue – not just a woman’s issue – the movement to end FGC needs additional male voices and allies to bring this issue to the forefront. 

This June, we’ll be holding a month-long campaign asking community members to share how they have raised the topic of FGC in conversation with men in their lives.

In order to help create safe, insightful, and positive conversations, we have provided a list of tools, questions, guidelines that can help you facilitate these conversations. Keep in mind you an apply many of these tips to conversations with others in your life as well, not just men.

1) Listening:

The simple act of genuinely listening to another person is powerful. Listen with your full attention, without judgment or assumptions. 

Instead of giving advice or telling a person what to feel or do, be a sounding board and brainstorm options.

However, setting appropriate limits is important for effective communication. If someone is being hateful towards you, it is okay to not continue the conversation.

2) Sharing stories during conversations:

Storytelling can be intimidating for people who find it hard to believe they have any story worth sharing, especially if it’s about something personal, taboo, or hidden. Yet it's also empowering, supporting an individual’s ability to think through what it is she wants to say, whom she wants to say it to, and what she hopes will happen as a result, while retaining significant control over the use and distribution of her narrative.

As healing as it can be, though, it also comes with its own personal risks: a person may feel more vulnerable and alone after sharing, or might be shamed by others. Create the right conditions for somebody to feel safe to share their story with you and encourage them, but don't pressure them if they're not ready.

3) Continued conversations:

Social change takes time, and often we may experience that we don’t get the results that we want in one conversation. Therefore, it is important to take stock of what has occurred during the course of the conversation, and allow all parties involved some time and space to reflect on it.

However, do not let it be your last conversation. Change can only happen if we are constantly in dialogue with each other.

4) If you're talking to a man, consider initiating conversations with these questions:

• When did you first come to know about FGC? 
• What is the role men can play in educating communities about FGC? 
• How can brothers/fathers make an impact in these conversations about ending FGC? 
• What message would you like to give to all the fathers and brothers out there about ending FGC?

We hope that this guide and list of questions will help you to have stimulating conversations that are enlightening and constructive.

For comments and inquiries about the campaign, please reach out to Samman Masud at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PS: Sahiyo will soon be launching a survey around male engagement on FGC during our June Father’s Day campaign. We’ll be sharing more information in the future about how to participate!

Related:

• This Father’s Day, join our campaign

On June 13th, we had the privilege of hosting an in-person screening of the Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling project in Kent, Washington, alongside project partners the US End FGM/C Network, Mother Africa, and the Washington Department of Health. This event provided a platform for courageous Washington-based individuals to share their personal narratives, shedding light on the practice of FGM/C and its profound impact on their lives.

The screening featured powerful videos from participants who bravely addressed the physical, emotional, and social consequences of FGM/C. These stories highlighted the diverse and enduring impacts of the practice, reflecting a wide range of cultural and community contexts. Some storytellers shared their experiences of advocacy efforts to end FGM/C, while others explored how healthcare providers can best support survivors or discussed the effects of FGM/C on their family relationships.

The event also emphasized the significance of Washington State's recent legislative progress, particularly the passage of State Senate Bill 5453 in April 2023, aimed at addressing FGM/C within the state. This milestone underscores the importance of multi-sectorial, holistic approaches involving healthcare, government, nonprofit, and community-based organizations, alongside community members directly impacted by FGM/C.

A special feature of the event was the panel discussion, where two of the storytellers, Muna and Severina, answered questions about their experiences and insights. The discussion covered topics such as the healing process, the need for support and resources, effective strategies for spreading awareness, challenges faced by survivors in seeking medical care, and ways to engage communities, including men and boys, in the conversation to end FGM/C.

The screening in Kent fostered a sense of community and solidarity, highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces for open dialogue and mutual support. Many participants expressed gratitude for having a survivor-centered space where individuals could share and reflect on their experiences. We are deeply grateful to all the storytellers for their courage and the attendees for actively participating in learning more about FGM/C. 

Related:

• Sahiyo U.S. Engages Community Stakeholders in Seattle, Washington to Advance Senate Bill 5453 Initiatives
• Check out and bookmark Sahiyo's Events Calendar

By Arefa Cassoobhoy

Why did you want to attend the retreat?

I had attended a virtual retreat during Covid and I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed meeting other people virtually, so that helped me feel comfortable that I would do well in an in-person group. Going to the virtual retreat also made me realize that I was ready to learn more about FGC and the history of the practice in the Bohra community. I knew that Zehra Petwa and Mariya were FGC experts when it came to talking about FGC, so I wanted to learn from them and the team how to communicate in a nonjudgmental way about the practice. I also wanted to learn how to support survivors who have gone through it.

What have you learned or most enjoyed at the retreat?

I was blown away by the kinship aspect of the retreat. I was born and raised in the US, and the Bohras I knew were the families that I grew up with, so it's a pretty small close-knit group. We're all very similar when it comes down to our backgrounds, and so at the retreat I got to meet Bohras who had different life experiences. The conversations were interesting, honest, and insightful. 

It was great to see how people’s ideas for activism were evolving throughout the weekend. We talked about what we thought our roles were in the community and how that relates to helping stop FGC. We also talked about how we can discuss FGC with our families and how it’s important to be able to have those real conversations.

I already had compassion for the people impacted by FGC, but the retreat really helped me build a toolkit of how to talk about it and support people. Also, I think as a doctor, as a parent, and as a woman, I feel there's an obligation that I have to protect young girls. There are a lot of bad things going on in the world, but this particular issue is close to me in a way that I feel like I can make a difference.

It’s important to recognize that FGC occurs across the world and it's not limited by religion or socioeconomic status or geography. At the retreat, we brought in a physician who I had worked with in the past who performs surgeries and provides medical care related to FGC – and there are a lot of people in Atlanta that need this medical care. She gave a great primer on some of the medical issues that come up with FGC, and that was extremely impactful.

How do you think this retreat will inform your work as an activist?  

This retreat helped me clarify the next steps for my activism. It made me realize that I had a lot more questions about the legal part of FGC. So now this year I’m on a committee with Sahiyo working on a legal timeline to help us understand and break down what's happening state-by-state in the US and potentially address what's going on in other countries.

This is a topic where people can feel like they are making small changes, and they may feel like it's not going to make a difference. But when you look at these timelines, you see how people's voices are influencing incremental changes that add up quickly. 

What work are you doing currently or hoping to do in the future?

The most important thing that I learned from the retreat is that I want people around me to know about the topic, not in a sensational way, but in a grounded and respectful way that encourages positive change. I think it helps bring awareness to the Bohra community, because it’s so hush-hush. Being vocal about FGC allows it to come up more in day-to-day conversations. That makes it easier for people to speak out and  not feel afraid or embarrassed. I plan to continue speaking out about FGC and hope people feel welcome to come talk to me about their need for healing and how to prevent girls around them from experiencing FGC.

Join us at the next three-day Sahiyo Activists Retreat, taking place virtually this year from July 26-July 28. Sign up now by June 1st.

Related:

• Join us for Sahiyo’s 8th annual Activists Retreat
• Rally, Revel, Repeat : A Changemakers Retreat!

On May 22nd, Sahiyo U.S. had the honor of presenting an FGC 101 training at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) conference in Springfield, Illinois. This training aimed to raise awareness and educate attendees about the critical issue of female genital cutting (FGC).

Our session provided a comprehensive overview of FGC, including terminology, WHO’s classification of FGC, health impacts, and prevalence globally and in the United States, with specific statistics from Illinois. The presentation emphasized the need for stronger data, enhanced research, and community engagement to improve prevention, protection, and support services for women and girls impacted by FGC.

Jumai Olumo, a dedicated Sahiyo volunteer and PhD candidate studying community psychology with a special focus on FGM/C, attended in person to support the event. Her academic and professional insights made the discussion both informative and personable. The diverse audience included rape crisis center staff from around the state, counselors, advocates, preventionists, and management/leadership, all of whom play a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence.

Participants were struck by the global and local prevalence of FGC, including within the United States. Many attendees were also surprised to learn that only 41 states currently have laws against FGC.

One attendee remarked, "The presentation was incredibly impactful for someone like me who had little knowledge of FGC," while another reflected, "great, informative presentation. Glad to know this organization exists."

The ICASA conference provided an excellent platform for Sahiyo to connect with other organizations and individuals committed to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation and continue raising awareness.

By Megan Seaver

On April 17th, Sahiyo U.S and Equality Now had the honor of hosting a virtual event, "Impactful Media Reporting on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the United States: A Conversation." This webinar explored how to report on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in a culturally cognizant, gender-sensitive, and ethical way. Attendees were media and communications professionals. Speakers included a panel of media and advocacy experts, such as: 

• Washington State Senator Karen Kaiser, 
• Emma Batha of Thomson Reuters Foundation News, 
• Journalist Milena Mikael Debass, 
• and documentary filmmaker Milena Warns from Without Exception Films.

The moderators were Sahiyo Co-founder and U.S. Executive Director, Mariya Taher, and Equality Now Communications Officer for North America, Mel Bailey.

Through this conversation, attendees were better able to understand the prevalence and complexity of FGM/C within the U.S. and the importance of engaging with survivors in a considerate manner when reporting on FGM/C. Additionally, attendees gained strategies on how to use media platforms to raise awareness and educate the public on FGM/C. They also learned analytical tools for covering related news, such as legal developments and community advocacy efforts effectively.

Here are some highlights  from webinar attendees:

The importance of building relationships with survivors:

“I can't stress enough how important it is to build those contacts with survivors because that is how you get stories. When I meet advocates, or survivors I like to spend quite a lot of time with them, and meet them in person, because even if that interaction does not lead to a story you’re still increasing your knowledge which makes for better reporting and also builds trust so that the survivor or organization better understands what you as the report are seeking from the interaction” - Emma Batha

The impact of a comprehensive approach and the role the media plays in it:

“We are here to talk about media in all its forms and the roles that media can play when it comes to having a multi-sectoral approach to end FGM/C. Multi-sectoral means the collective effort of government agencies [and] local organizations, provides FGM/C education builds awareness, as well as support services for survivors at the federal, state, and local levels, to end FGM/C.” - Mariya Taher

How media can tackle misinformation: 

“It takes a lot of education, and the media is a part of that process because people have a lot of misinformation. Unfortunately, we had to clarify that this practice is not religious practice… so it was somewhat of a difficult communications project and I have to give credit to the Washington coalition for providing first-person testimony to correct, and educate and to elucidate this issue.” - Senator Karen Kaiser

 On Survivor-led initiatives:

“I wanted to write something that highlighted survivor-lead efforts to end the practice in the U.S. Figuring out how to show that work through videos took time, to build relationships, and how to make it visual. I had several conversations with Mariya, always kind of thinking about what types of work I could highlight. By the end, I was able to interview three survivor activists, but also film the Activist Retreat which is put on by Sahiyo in New York, [as well as help a D.C.\survivors support group for African women, and a training for law enforcement on how to look for signs of FGM/C taking place in their community.” - Milena Mikael Debass

Bring the issue of FGM/C to a wider audience: 

“We have a docu-series that focuses on different issues women face around the world and FGM/C is one of those. The one thing I keep coming back to is that we don’t give people enough credit. People want to learn about this, myself included. When we were going to film in different parts of the world, I spoke to my friends about this project and they wanted to know more about it. Then when we included the celebrity component we interviewed Constance Wu, an actress in Crazy Rich Asians who personally chose to discuss this topic because she personally wanted to learn about it.” - Milena Warns

To learn more about this event, watch the recording below:

Learn more about media communication/reporting on FGM/C with the resources below:

• Sahiyo survivor stories - Sahiyo
• Resource Guide for Sensitive and Effective Reporting on FGM/C - Sahiyo
• Global FGM media reporting toolkit - Equality Now
• US FGM media factsheet - Equality Now
• US FGM State Law Map - Equality Now