Female Genital Cutting (FGC) 101- Building a Better Understanding

Sahiyo will be leading a session at the ICASA Conference in Springfield, Illinois about Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C or FGC), which is a reality for many women and girls across different communities in the United States. Yet, for centuries, FGM/C has remained a hidden tradition. It’s often practiced by women to women, and girls are raised to believe they must remain silent about what they underwent. Silence is an inherent part of this type of gender-based violence (GBV) that can lead to lifelong physical and emotional health consequences. At the core of providing better prevention, protection, health, and social support services for women and girls is stronger data, enhanced research, and community engagement. This session will provide an introduction and overview of FGC and tools that might be helpful if you do work with or come across others who have undergone FGC.