Gugu Makhari learned about the Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling project through a friend and through personal research online. She wanted to share a story about how both female genital cutting (FGC) and male circumcision are normalized in her community. Those who undergo these harmful practices are often celebrated after they are cut.

“After a couple of months they come back and then we have this big ceremony where everyone comes out from different neighborhoods all together and they will go in a group and sing along cheer for them, so we're so used to that.”

But, this tradition had a painful impact on Gugu. She knew one girl who underwent FGC and never spoke to her again; and another friend who underwent male circumcision and died from the practice. These experiences affected her for life, and she still feels the loss of her close friend for the sake of tradition.

“I lost a friend and I always wanted to express myself…  but I didn't know how and I didn't really have a platform to do that.” 

The Voices workshop allowed her to have the space to tell her story for the first time. Gugu described her friend who died as: 

“The only person I had at the time when I was going through a lot at home, that understood me and who was really supportive and really loved me genuinely. He was very close to me. So yeah, that hurts.” 

Learning about her friend's death was difficult for Gugu, as their relationship was something she cherished deeply. 

“When I found out about his death. I went to his home and his mom [told] me what happened, but she didn't tell me in detail. I was still a little young, in our culture…you accept what you are told and that's usually it. I'm not gonna be asking his mom why you let this happen.”

The unknown circumstances of her friend's death frustrated Gugu, not knowing what happened, and why a practice with fatal consequences occurred in her community. This is what inspired her to create a story in his memory. For her digital story, Gugu created art pieces that reflected the fun and joy that radiated from her friend. 

“I was expressing myself using the art…  it helps in so many ways. It was…  a kind of healing, I don't know how to say it. But it also helped because it opened another door for me to really now use art as a form of expression for human rights. The art was about the culture where he came from. I have some drums that I drew in different sizes so that it resembles being heard amplifying your voice louder and louder and louder"

The Voices workshop provided her a cathartic space to tell her story, and to learn the stories of others who had undergone harmful practices like FGC.

“I've learned a lot about being confident and I learned a lot about sharing your story, how it can change other people's lives. I've been to so many workshops and events, but I didn't even feel like I was necessarily at a workshop. It felt like I was with family. And I couldn't believe that people have gone through so much pain. Hearing other people's stories made me realize that there's more for us to fight for in the world. And even if I was not directly affected, it helped for me to be there as well as a voice.”

Gugu’s choice to share her story about her friend highlights how connections can be made between the movement to end FGC and other harmful practices justified by tradition.

“I just hope people that receive this message understand how wrong this is and if there's anyone who's in my shoes who's lost a friend this way or someone they loved, that way they can get up and advocate and they can start speaking against this practice. I hope when they receive this message, they realize the danger.”

Gugulethu ‘Gugu’ Makhari is a dynamic force dedicated to championing women's rights, human rights, and youth empowerment on a global scale. As the Chair of the Commission on Women's Rights and Human Rights, she serves as a passionate advocate for change through her active involvement with the Youth Council for Global Sustainable Development Goals Inc NGO. Her commitment to creating a better world extends beyond borders, as she has also taken up the role of USA National Organizer and Coordinator for the "March For Our Planet" movement, catalyzing action for environmental sustainability. Gugu's multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication make her an inspiring force driving positive change in diverse spheres.

By: Kiah Leone

While in Australia, I had the privilege of speaking with Marie Jones and Nigisti Mulholland from The African Women’s Clinic in Victoria, Australia to learn more about their clinic, the services they provide, and the current state of FGM/C-related care in the country. 

The African Women’s Clinic (AWC) is the only FGM/C-specific clinic in all of Australia. It’s staffed by women’s health nurses and midwives who provide confidential and comprehensive care to survivors living in the state of Victoria. For the last 14 years, the AWC has offered a safe space for survivors, while also providing FGM/C support and education resources. They have also made medical procedures such as de-infibulation more accessible to survivors. 

As a coordinator for the AWC, Marie works closely alongside Nigisti who is a coordinator for the Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP)* at the Royal Women’s Hospital. FARREP is a program that provides services for women from places where FGM/C is practiced. Any survivor can self-refer to FARREP and once that contact has been established, a FARREP staff member can help the patient schedule their consultation, accompany them to their appointments, refer them to additional health services if necessary, and advocate for them if any issues arise. This close collaboration between FARREP workers and AWC clinicians has helped to foster an excellent environment to address the issue of FGM/C within a care setting. 

Clinic days are often filled with patient consultations, education and information sharing (involving books, diagrams, and mirrors), physical examinations, and deinfibulation procedures (when appropriate). Although clinic days may be busy, the advantage of a specialized clinic is that nurses and midwives at the AWC are able to spend as much time as needed with their patients.

“This is the beauty of a FGM/C-specific clinic,” said Marie.“There is no 15-minute appointments. It might be 30 to 40 minutes or more.”

Not only are staff able to spend more time with patients, but FARREP’s self-refer framework has helped to remove additional barriers to care such as long wait times. 

“It’s been wonderful for these women – they don’t have to wait long times to see a clinician, they can see us within two weeks or four weeks, " explained Marie. “If they want de-infibulation on that day we do it on that day or if they want it two weeks later because they need some time to think about it, that’s not a problem, so the clinic has just made it so easy.” 

In addition to improving the availability of this type of care, staff at the AWC have also worked to improve the quality of care that survivors in Victoria receive by prioritizing survivors’ safety and comfort. 

According to Marie and Nigisti, this often starts by having multiple preliminary conversations to ease any patient concerns before they even arrive in the clinic.

“I think that having this setup has helped them to build confidence in the early days,” said Nigisti. “Before they wouldn’t come for a review, but now they come in for a review and make an appointment to express their feelings and gratitude.”

Once in the clinic, a staff member will usually take a patient history and identify the type of cutting the patient has undergone. They’ll also discuss any health issues they may be experiencing, whether they’re eligible for a de-infibulation procedure, and what steps would be involved if so.

In addition to these services, education remains a cornerstone for staff at the AWC.

“At the AWC, we do education not only in the survivors’ communities, but also for service providers to understand the cultural background and the need to be culturally aware and competent to look after these women,” explained Nigisti.

This need for greater cultural awareness and competency amongst care providers is made clearer when patients share stories with Marie and Nigisti. Patients discuss all kinds of negative healthcare encounters they’ve experienced prior to finding the AWC.

“We’ve had women with traditional cutting who try to find somewhere else to get help and the GPs [general practitioners] don't know about FGM/C and you know the survivors go on for years before they actually find the clinic, but there's lots of lots of stories like that,” Marie elaborates. “We would like to give a lot more education out to the community for all health professionals, so that we get the word out, because even after 14 years, there are still a lot of health professionals and GPs that don’t know that we exist, which is very unfortunate.”

The stories shared here from Marie and Nigisti help to highlight the fact that FGM/C is a global issue that requires both local and international collaboration to address. As Australia’s first and only FGM/C clinic, the AWC has demonstrated a strong commitment to culturally safe and comprehensive care for survivors. In addition to offering a number of specialized services for patients, team members from both the AWC and the FARREP have emphasized the importance of expanding education efforts and a need for further resources in order to make that possible. 

To find out more about the African Women’s Clinic – or to learn how you can support the work that they do – please visit the African Women’s Clinic’s website. 

*Please note that since this discussion, Nigisti Mulholland has retired. Congratulations on your retirement, Nigisti! Thank you for your years of service supporting the health and well-being of FGM/C survivors. 

By Isatou Jallow

In my film “Behind The Wall,” I've chosen to share my deeply personal experience with Type 3 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Through this storytelling, my aim is threefold.

First, I want to educate. FGM, deeply rooted in tradition, often goes unquestioned. By unveiling the raw pain and suffering I endured, I hope to provoke reflection within communities about the necessity and ethics of this practice.

Secondly, it serves as a testament to resilience. By sharing my story, I aim to show survivors that they are not alone and that healing is possible. It's my hope that this personal account can offer solace and encouragement to those who have experienced similar pain.

Lastly, this documentary is a call to action. By shedding light on FGM, we can mobilize governments, NGOs, and communities to work together to eradicate this harmful practice.

In sharing my story, I hope to create a world where girls are free from this brutality, where silence is replaced with compassion, and where stories like mine inspire change. Together, we can amplify the voices of survivors and put an end to FGM.

Isatou Jallow is a legal scholar in the final year of her Ph.D. program at the University of Washington School of Law. With a strong commitment to advocacy and community service, she has volunteered and interned at organizations like Northwest Immigrants Rights and YWCA Sexual Violence Legal Services. Isatou also served as a commissioner for the City of Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Services, fostering inclusion and understanding among diverse communities. She gained valuable experience in the HR department of Seattle Children's Hospital, focusing on accommodation and worker's compensation. Driven by a belief in diversity and inclusion, Isatou founded Inclusive Outlook, a nonprofit advocating for inclusive education for children with disabilities and the health rights of women with disabilities. She is also the founder of Amosa Skin, a brand donating most of its proceeds to support Inclusive Outlook's initiatives. As Isatou approaches the final year of her Ph.D. program, she is focused on defending her research and completing her doctoral studies, aiming to contribute to research, policy development, and community engagement to promote inclusivity and make a positive impact.

Sahiyo U.S. is pleased to announce we’ve been awarded a grant alongside George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, U.S. End FGM/C Network, and Global Woman PEACE Foundation from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to develop training programs, prevention strategies, and education on FGM/C.  

“FGM/C is an issue I’ve known about my entire life.This partnership between our various organizations highlights something as a child I never thought possible, a public recognition that FGM/C is a concern in the U.S.," said Mariya Taher, Executive Director of Sahiyo U.S.

“It is significant that the OVW is recognizing the importance of addressing FGM/C in the United States, and that understanding its intersections with other forms of violence against women is crucial,” said Caitlin LeMay, the Executive Director of the U.S. End FGM/C Network.

Read the full article here.

By Aries Nuño 

In participating in Sahiyo's Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling workshop, I chose to share a story that examined my journey toward understanding women’s health. This journey was not just a personal quest, but a response to a disquieting cultural reality: the pervasive silence among generations of women about their own bodies. Such silence, I discovered, often culminates in uncomfortable encounters within healthcare settings. My narrative serves as both a reflection and a critique of this phenomenon, extending its scope to spotlight the unique challenges faced by those who have undergone FGM/C when interacting with healthcare systems.

I hope my story serves as an eye-opener for healthcare professionals and the general public. Healthcare providers should strive for empathy and cultural sensitivity, as well as an understanding of how negative interactions in a healthcare setting can exacerbate an already traumatic experience for survivors of FGM/C. For the public, I would like my narrative to be both an invitation to engage in an open dialogue about women's health and an encouragement for conversations across generations — from grandmothers to mothers to daughters. 

By weaving these elements of storytelling together, I aim to not only bring individual experiences into a larger discussion, but also to contribute to a more nuanced, empathetic, and effective approach to public health. In doing so, I hope to be a part of breaking the cycle of silence and to help initiate lasting social change, one story at a time.

Aries Nuño is a public health professional interested in the sociocultural influences on an individual’s experience with sexual and reproductive healthcare. In her diverse public health career, she has contributed to projects including human-centered design to address female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Ebonyi, Nigeria, and expanding web-based access to self-administered STI and HIV testing for Indigenous populations across the U.S. She began volunteering with Sahiyo in 2021, and now joins the team as the Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator. She looks forward to leveraging her public health background to facilitate educational opportunities to promote more sustainable approaches to end FGM/C.

Sahiyo U.S. is excited to announce the publication of Examining Intersections Between Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting And Social Oppressions: A Mixed Methods Study, the second of three reports from our Critical Intersections Research Project. Inspired by our 2021 webinar, and building upon themes derived from our initial body of work released in 2023, this new report is based on original research from a mixed-methods survey with over 100 respondents, including individuals and organization working within and beyond the FGM/C sphere. We are proud to publish this report, as part of a survivor and advocate-led original research project, on February 6th, International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C.

The report examines two main forms of oppressions intersecting with FGM/C:

Systemic forces, such as discrimination within systems and institutions, included intersections between several forms of oppression such as xenophobia and racism with institutions like law enforcement. Many survey participants identified fear of the criminal justice system as a challenge for survivors and the end FGM/C movement; interestingly, a majority of every group reported to work with the legal system and law enforcement (in and beyond the FGM/C sphere).

Interpersonal and communal forces, such as discrimination from within practicing communities and the movement to end FGM/C, introduced complexities for survivors and activists alike. Interestingly, individuals working in the FGM/C sphere most commonly identified interpersonal challenges (rather than systemic forces) such as gender discrimination and other forms of gender-based violence as challenges that girls and women in FGM/C-practicing communities face. Additonally, a strong discord around the framing of FGM/C (‘mutilation’ vs. ‘cutting’) suggested a significant barrier to collaborating within the FGM/C sphere and beyond.

Lastly, the study examined the potential for cross-collaboration between the anti-FGM/C sphere and other social justice movements. Though participants reported an overwhelming desire for cross-collaboration across the demographic groups, they also identified many significant challenges for meaningful cross-collaboration. Participants also provided opportunities for collaboration. 

From the various challenges, opportunities, and intersections of oppressions, eight recommendations for cross-sector collaboration and intersectional work involving how to work toward ending FGM/C were gathered. 

This research is meant to support advocates working in FGM/C to better understand how these intersecting oppressions affect the movement to end FGM/C, and connect fellow activists and social change makers to understand the larger forms of inequity at play and unite in ending these universally oppressive systems. We aim to strengthen anti-FGM/C efforts by addressing the roots of inequity and inequality and creating stronger collaborative movements across various human rights issues. 

A special thank you to the Wallace Global Fund for funding this project!

Read the full report here.

WASHINGTON, DC - (February 6, 2024) - The Milken Institute School of Public Health alongside its community partners announced today they received a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to provide training and technical assistance focused on the prevention and response to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) to community-based organizations across the United States working to end violence.

“Two hundred million women worldwide have experienced FGM/C, with 3-4 million girls affected every year,” said Karen A. McDonnell, Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. “That’s only in the countries we know about. In the United States, over a half-million girls and women are affected by, or at risk for, FGM/C and it is important that FGM/C is recognized as a prevalent form of gender-based violence worldwide.” Dr. McDonnell will serve as the principal investigator on the project.

The team assembled to address this project is a cooperative of partners that includes: The U.S. End FGM/C Network, the Global Woman PEACE Foundation, Sahiyo US, and the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. 

“It is significant that the OVW is recognizing the importance of addressing FGM/C in the United States, and that understanding its intersections with other forms of violence against women is crucial,” said Caitlin LeMay, the Executive Director of the U.S. End FGM/C Network.

Sahiyo co-founder Mariya Taher —who has been recognized by L’Oreal Paris as a 2023 Women of Worth and a leading advocate in the field of FGM/C — shared her own excitement about the partnership.

“FGM/C is an issue I’ve known about my entire life having grown up in a community in which it was practiced. This partnership between our various organizations highlights something as a child I never thought possible, a public recognition that FGM/C is a concern in the U.S., and that for us to prevent the next generation from undergoing it, we have to work in a multisectoral way that partners the government with community-based organizations, with the advocates and the survivors who have the expertise on how to address this issue.” 

Throughout the project, the team will conduct listening sessions, provide training and technical assistance, and coordinate on the creation of online resources that can be utilized to increase the capacity of care given to FGM/C by other community service providers across the U.S.  

These resources will help victim service organizations and allied stakeholders recognize and address FGM/C in their provision of services.

“We will explore how we can best meet the needs and build upon the strengths of service providers who may not even realize that the people they seek to help have experienced this trauma,” Angela Peabody, the Executive Director and Founder of the Global Woman PEACE Foundation.

By Faizneen Bharmal

Growing up in a progressive and well-educated Dawoodi Bohra family, the topic of Khatna, commonly known as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) around the world, was always shrouded in silence. The subject was rarely broached unless one became a parent, at which point it became relevant. For the majority of my life, I remained oblivious to its existence.

Within the Dawoodi Bohra community, FGM/C Type 1 is predominantly practiced. In the majority of cases, this involves part of the prepuce or the clitoral hood being cut.

I've often heard rationalizations for the practice, from women in my community: "We only remove a tiny, inconsequential part. Most girls hardly even notice it." "It's done under the supervision of a medical practitioner, ensuring hygiene and safety." However, my story and experience prompts me to pose some critical questions to those who persist in this harmful practice.

Does the severity of trauma a child endures become acceptable just because it involves removing a tiny part? A child who can remember when the act was performed on them? Are you so resolute in your beliefs that you're willing to deprive your child of what they rightfully deserve? Does your religious duty and the societal pressure of community membership outweigh the lifelong trauma that a child must endure?

For far too long, Khatna, as it's referred to in the Bohra community, remained a closely guarded secret—a taboo subject that was never up for discussion. What perplexes me is that it contradicts everything I know about my community: A community that prides itself on being educated, forward-thinking, and modern. My story isn't merely about the personal trauma I endured, but also about the immense pressure the community exerts on each generation to uphold this tradition. A tradition, it seems, is a beast that's not easily slain, even if it causes them to sacrifice the well-being of young girls.

When I made the decision to share my story, I engaged in a profound conversation with my mother. I'm grateful that she understood my perspective and is willing to support me in my mission to educate women of her generation and those younger so that the burden of this practice is not passed down to their daughters and daughters-in-law.

Faizneen is a communications professional with 12+ years of experience working to inspire action and meaningful engagement via content creation, storytelling, and media in humanitarian crises situations, rural transformation, public health, human rights, women's rights, literacy, and poverty alleviation.