On March 27th, we hosted a screening of nine digital stories as part of the 8th cohort of the Voices to End FGM/C program. This gathering showcased the powerful narratives of survivors, allies, and advocates committed to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

The discussion was moderated by Aries Nuño, Sahiyo’s Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Amy Hill from Silence Speaks, and Orchid Pusey from Asian Women’s Shelter, who are from partner organizations in this initiative. We were also joined by Jeniffer Dias and Gugu Makhari, participants from the latest workshop, who were invited to shed more light on their personal stories and continued efforts in addressing FGM/C. 

The event was well attended, with about 15 participants engaging deeply with the stories presented. Attendees expressed their appreciation for the storytelling, noting one story as "very powerful and engaging" and another as "beautifully tender and fierce." The authenticity and bravery of the storytellers were frequently highlighted, with one story where it was described that "this practice did not make me a woman, I am doing that," a quote that resonated strongly with the audience. With a few storytellers, whose home country is The Gambia, a conversation was sparked about the government’s current attempt to repeal the ban against FGM/C. Noting the importance that survivors should be driving the narrative given their personal experiences with FGM/C and motivating the changes seen in legislation.  

Feedback underscored the event as a warm and welcoming environment where personal and challenging topics could be shared safely. Many thanked the storytellers for their courage and for being "cycle-breakers," changing the future for the next generation of girls.

We are grateful for the continued engagement and support from our community, which fuels our mission to end FGM/C. We look forward to more such impactful events and thank everyone who shared their stories and those who came to listen.

Applications are closing soon for our Voices to End FGM/C 2024 Workshop. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit our website and apply here! Deadline is April 15th.

By Tanya Samyak

On December 6, 2023, Sahiyo organized a webinar titled Pain, Stigma and Sexual Health: Healing through Storytelling in collaboration with TightLipped, a grassroots organization supporting and advocating for individuals who experience chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain. Panelists shared their personal stories, which touched on topics survivors of female genital cutting (FGC) also can relate to like healing through storytelling and sexual health issues.

The panelists included: 

• Lakshmi Anantnaryan, who is an international women's rights activist and alumni of Sahiyo’s Voices to End FGM/C project
• Grace Culqui, a women’s health advocate and an intern at TightLipped
• Lomaris Diaz, a veterinary anesthesiologist and active member of TightLipped

Lakshmi, who has endometriosis, talked about how her inability to conceive a baby was the utmost concern for everybody around her and how much she was affected by societal beliefs that women’s bodies were only meant for reproduction and penetrative sex. In my opinion, this way of imagining the utility of women's bodies demonstrates society’s ignorance about women’s sexual health. Her story also helped me understand that those experiencing endometriosis not only deal with physical pain but also emotional pain and a sense of embarrassment because of these patriarchal notions about a woman's body. 

I also listened to the panelists who have vulvovaginal conditions speak about how they internalized the stigma they faced. Grace shared how some women experience shame in their relationships and an inferiority complex due to their sexual health challenges. She described how she felt she had to prove to her partner she was worthy to be in a relationship due to shame around her condition. Her experience articulates for me that there is a lack of understanding or representation of the conditions women may experience in mainstream media. 

Finally, Lomaris shared her experiences with healthcare professionals who didn’t understand her condition and further that there is a lack of information about chronic vulvovaginal conditions in the American gynecology curriculum. I understand now how this lack of education for healthcare providers can challenge someone with a vulvovaginal condition when they are seeking a healthcare provider who can properly diagnose their conditions and give conscientious support. These systemic issues can add to women's suffering, and I commend Sahiyo and TightLipped for fostering a healing space and community that promotes the sexual health of survivors of FGC and vulvovaginal conditions. 

Event Overview

Join us on April 25, 2024, at 12 PM EST for an enlightening webinar titled “Quiet Activism and the Psychosocial Impacts of Female Genital Cutting.” We are honored to feature speakers Arefa Cassoobhoy, Doris Mukangu, Farrah Dalal, Dena Igusti, and Lubaina Plumber, who will share their insights on leveraging quiet activism to navigate and transform the psychosocial landscape of FGC.

During this webinar, you will be able to participate in a discussion about the diverse experiences of navigating the psychosocial landscape of FGC and advocacy work. Through shared stories and discussions, we aspire to showcase the transformative power of quiet activism. We've seen firsthand the profound impact of taking a personal stand, and we hope to empower attendees to appreciate the significance of their contributions to the movement against FGC. 

This webinar is an open invitation to anyone interested in understanding the broader impacts of FGC and the role of activism in driving change. Whether you are a survivor, activist, or someone interested in learning more about FGM/C, your presence will enrich the conversation.

Register Today!

A note from Sophia Jones, Sahiyo Events and Programs Intern

When discussing the implications and outcomes of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) there is often an emphasis on the physical outcomes. However, the implications of FGC are wide and varied. Experiences of "othering," emotional suppression, and the development of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder highlight the complex aftermath of FGC. This complexity extends to families who challenge cultural norms by rejecting FGC, facing societal marginalization for their decision.

Against this backdrop, we invite you to show solidarity and learn more about "quiet activism"—individual actions that contribute to ending FGC, often without public acknowledgment. This form of activism, embracing everything from personal conversations to advocating within families, or artistic expressions that spark meaningful dialogue, represents powerful acts of change.

Read more in “Behind Closed Doors: Exposing and Addressing Harmful Practices in the United States.”

Sahiyo is proud to help announce the publication of a new report by the Population Institute a nonprofit that advocates for gender equality and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, titled, "Behind Closed Doors: Exposing and Addressing Harmful Gender-Based Practices in the United States”. The report tackles various forms of gender-based violence (GBV) occurring in the United States including female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C); child, early, and forced  marriage/union (CEFMU); femicide, andvirginity testing. The report seeks to emphasize how prevalent these practices are in the United States, as they are often dismissed as harms that occur in foreign countries or other cultures, not here in the United States.

However, these forms of GBV are increasing in the U.S. As reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 500,000 women and girls are estimated to have undergone or are at risk of undergoing FGM/C in the US. The Tahirih Justice Center reports that at least 300,000 minors are estimated to have been married in the United States between 2000 and 2018. While theViolence Policy Center states that the rate of gender-based murder in the U.S. continues to be the highest amongst high-income countries, with a reported 2.2 per 100,000 women being intentionally killed in 2021. Women in the U.S. are 28 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than women in peer countries.

These statistics highlight the need for educating people in the U.S. about the prevalence of various forms of GBV. This report also hopes to bring this crisis to the attention of U.S. policymakers, and other government officials who cansupport advocating for culturally competent legislation, survivor-focused initiatives and programs, and comprehensive sexuality education to counter these harms. 

Gender-based violence affects us all. Let’s create a culture of support and solidarity to uplift and empower survivors. Read about the widespread nature of harmful gender-based practices in the United States in the Population Institute’s latest report, “Behind Closed Doors: Exposing and Addressing Harmful Gender-Based Practices in the United States”. 

1. Who is this retreat for?

Sahiyo is pleased to announce that the 2024 U.S. Activists’ Retreat to any person connected to a community or communities engaged in the practice of FGM/C and who is interested in ending the practice of FGM/C. Learn more about what the Retreat is all about from past retreat attendees who have written for our blog! Also watch: 

2. I am not an FGM/C survivor/I was subjected to FGM/C but I do not recall my experience/I was subjected to FGM/C but I have had no adverse effects from my experience. Am I still welcome?

Yes! One does not have to be subjected to trauma or have a trauma response to have an interest in ending the practice. Everyone has a responsibility to do something and everyone interested in doing something can benefit by meeting with others who want to take action and learn more about what can be done.

3. How much does it cost to attend the Retreat?

There are no fees to attend Sahiyo’s Activists Retreat. Retreat registration is completely free and the virtual nature of the 2024 U.S. Retreat means that Retreat attendees should not incur any travel costs to attend the Retreat!

4. How do I sign up for the Retreat?

You can find our 2024 Activists’ Retreat interest form linked [HERE]! First-time attendees may be reached out to by a Sahiyo volunteer or Activists’ Retreat Planning Committee member for an informal phone or Zoom conversation regarding the Retreat and to answer any additional conversations you may have. We hope to hear from you!

5. Is it possible to attend the retreat for just a single day?

The purpose of the Activists Retreat is to allow activists to get together over the course of an entire weekend to build community, find support, and plan for future activism to end FGM/C. We ask that retreat attendees be able to attend all three days of the retreat in order to participate in all of the events, discussions, and presentations we have planned. We understand that a three-day virtual retreat may feel like an intense commitment, but we assure all prospective attendees that there will be many breaks and moments for self-care built in to make the Virtual Retreat an enjoyable, healing experience of community-building and learning.

6. What should I bring to the Activists Retreat?

Bring yourself, an internet connection, and your enthusiasm! 

7. What sorts of things will I learn at the Activists Retreat?

A more complete agenda of events will be released to all Retreat Attendees closer to the date of the event. At this time, Retreat Attendees can expect to meet other activists, speak about their experiences as activists, and also learn from guest speakers. We will also have discussions about future activism, community building, and the Sahiyo Activists’ Toolkit.

Learn more about Activists Retreat by visiting our blog and hearing from past participants themselves.

Do you have more questions? 

Email Samman Masud at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today!

Date: April 17, 2024

Time: 3:00 PM to 4:30 pm EST

Registration: https://bit.ly/FGMCMediaReporting

Join Equality Now and Sahiyo U.S. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST, for a discussion that will explore the intricacies of reporting on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). This invitation extends to all media professionals — reporters, journalists, editors, and communication and content creators — who are looking to deepen their understanding and refine their approach to covering FGM/C. This event is particularly timely, given the current landscape where misinformation about FGM/C often leads to narratives that are uninformed, conflated, or misrepresented 

The Need for Nuanced Reporting:

FGM/C is recognized as a human rights violation and poses unique reporting challenges. It is essential for media coverage to navigate these complexities with care in order to avoid inadvertently causing harm while staying true to the lived experiences of those impacted by FGM/C. This webinar seeks to address the topic by equipping attendees with the skills to report on FGM/C in a manner that is both sensitive and accurate. 

Who Will Be Speaking?

The event will feature a panel of media and advocacy experts, including 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 of this event are Sahiyo Co-founder and U.S. executive director, Mariya Taher, and Equality Now Communications officer for North America, Mel Bailey.

Attendees will gain insights on:

• The prevalence and complexity of FGM/C within diverse cultural contexts in the U.S.
• The importance of engaging with survivors or those at risk with informed sensitivity.
• Strategies for using media platforms to raise awareness and educate the public on FGM/C.
• Analytical tools for covering related news, such as legal developments and community advocacy efforts effectively.

Why Attend?

This webinar represents an opportunity for media professionals to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on FGM/C. Through informed reporting, the media can play a pivotal role in supporting survivors and educating the public. This event is not just about reporting on a sensitive topic; it's about doing so in a way that respects the dignity of those impacted and contributes to positive change.

If you’re involved in media or interested in how media and communications can influence social issues thoughtfully, this event is for you. It's an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and consider the best practices for reporting on cultural practices that can lead to harm, such as FGM/C. 

Register for the event here