By Juliet Shires

Recently, policy interns at Sahiyo have been interviewing members of the Connecticut (CT) Coalition to End FGM/C to learn more about coalition members' important work toward policy creation on female genital cutting (FGC). In the first blog of the series, Sahiyo’s policy intern, Juliet Shires, interviewed the Executive Director of the U.S End FGM/C Network and CT Coalition member Caitlin LeMay. For this second blog, she talked to Joanne Golden, a member of the Sahiyo U.S. Advisory Board and an attorney working in Massachusetts. Juliet and Joanne discussed how listening to survivors and those from affected communities and her personal knowledge as a lawyer strengthens coalitions to more effectively pass holistic legislation.

The Importance of the Lawyer-Survivor Partnership

Joanne Golden's journey as an activist working to prevent FGC started when she learned about the harmful practice and sought to pass legislation in Massachusetts to protect children from undergoing it, which eventually happened after seven years of advocacy efforts in August 2020. After being successful in Massachusetts, she began advising the CT Coalition to End FGM/C on how to do the same. She explains how meeting Mariya Taher, the Executive Director of Sahiyo U.S., and other survivors in 2015 changed her perspective on how to approach the issue of FGC as well as the understanding of her role as a lawyer within coalition work: 

"My mindset changed in that it wasn’t really about what I was doing [as a lawyer] but who we were doing it for.” 

Lawyers and lawmakers are needed to support the bill and get it passed through the legislative system as they bring the knowledge of how these systems work, but that work is meaningless without involving those communities and individuals impacted by FGC, the voices of survivors are needed to contribute to those laws, Joanne explained.

“At the time a majority of people who [shared their stories] were at-risk were people of color, Muslim, and oftentimes immigrants. I fit none of those…My role wasn’t to put myself forward to ask all the questions. [It was to] let the survivors or to let people who could testify, [like doctors with medical/professional relationships to survivors,] take charge in those situations…It was saying how can I use my knowledge and my experience (as a woman and a lawyer) to protect the vulnerable. The question is how to apply that.”

Joanne recognizes how in her role as a lawyer she must be especially culturally sensitive when approaching FGC given that it is often a deeply rooted practice in many different cultures. 

“I think first of all it's important to have some humility and to understand that you do not know everything [as a lawyer]...you come at it from one aspect and say how can I use my knowledge and experience as a human and a woman [to help]? I know the law and how it’s meant to work, but the question is how to apply that.”

Being humble also involves educating yourself, according to Joanne. It demonstrates your capacity to learn and listen to survivors of FGC to make the work you do more effective. On that note, Joanne contacted the Islamic Cultural Center in Boston and spoke to the Imam about what could be some ways to best approach FGC-impacted communities: 

“How can we get the message across that FGC is not necessary, not from a religious point of view, not from a legal point of view? And how to make people comfortable with the idea that they can abandon this practice for their benefit? Those are the tough conversations to have…once I was knowledgeable enough to make those arguments, I stepped forward and I thought I could be an advocate to help educate others.”

Overall, Joanne stresses the importance of carefully crafting bills so that “people don’t get to use the law for their own agenda.” For example, the Massachusetts coalition reached out to GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, to rephrase the bill on FGC so that it didn't conflate gender-affirming surgery with FGC, and also make the former illegal. Joanne says lawyers provide the expertise and knowledge to ensure legislation is not written in a way that could bring about unintentional harmful consequences without people realizing it.  

Misconceptions Around FGM/C and the Law

Since FGC is often connected with ideas of religion amongst some practicing communities, Joanne explains how some pro-FGC individuals believe that FGC should fall under the First Amendment as freedom of religion. 

“[People think that] the First Amendment protects religion. And it doesn’t protect religion, it protects your practice of your beliefs. It protects the individual. So, in understanding that [FGC is] not rooted in religion, it was a social practice and therefore we would not be denying someone’s ability to practice their religion or their faith…it has to do with more than religion...Really, what you’re talking about is a way to suppress a woman’s sexuality.” 

Joanne explains that to successfully pass state legislation on FGC, an American perception, one emphasizing the individual rather than the collective, can be helpful.

“There’s a perception in the United States that we’re all about the individual and not about the family and not about society [which differs from other democracies across the world]. I think learning how to say that what you’re doing is preserving society by protecting the individual is important… [FGC can be seen as] a way to suppress a girl’s individuality.”

Joanne also illustrates the importance of understanding the American political context in passing laws by explaining that because the US government is based on a federalist system, there is a great need for FGC legislation to be enacted in every state. Particularly since the 2018 Michigan Case ruled that FGC was a criminal activity on the state level and that Congress had overstepped its authority to pass such a law in the manner that it had.

“Because the federal law existed since 1996, people thought that was enough…they forget federalism. There are areas of the law that are exclusive to the federal government and the rest is for the states… The federal government can only do so much… If anything came out of [the Michigan case] it was so we could show people ‘look this is what happens’ without states law [on FGC]”

Once state laws are passed, however, advocacy still needs to occur to ensure the laws are implemented and function as they should. 

“The most vulnerable in society are not disposable…[Part of showing this is] having education and resources available to them to say no, and if no is not enough and [FGC] happens then to get them services to help them heal…The work’s not done just because the bill has passed.”

The bill in Massachusetts passed in 2020, and there was an educational component, which Joanne pointed out has not been adequately addressed as efforts on behalf of the Department of Public Health were diverted to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now that we are past that, “we have to get their attention again…The law is there, and if a case is brought then a judge can use it [to prosecute the perpetrators of FGC]... If we can prevent it from happening [through public education], I think that’d be a much bigger win”

Joanne also shared that resources need to be used properly to educate Massachusetts residents about the harms of FGC.

“So you need to have education in nursing programs and in medical doctor programs for those who will have patients that have undergone this physical, emotional, and mental trauma due to FGM/C and you’re going to have to give them services. Then there’s the prevention part of it which is to let people know that this is not a required religious practice. This is not a tradition that should be continued. You’re not only harming the child and the woman she’s going to become but also your family and your society as a whole… Having education and resources available allows impacted communities to say no to having their daughters cut.”

Thank you to Joanne Golden for taking the time to sit down with our policy intern, Juliet Shires, and for her continued work with the CT Coalition and within Massachusetts.

Related:

• The Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C Interview Series: Caitlin LeMay
  

Want to get involved? 

• Visit https://endfgmcinct.com/ for more information or contact the CT Coalition
• Volunteer with Sahiyo
• Sign the petition to end FGM/C in CT

Sahiyo U.S. is honored to have been selected by The Allstate Foundation, in collaboration with Common Impact, as one of 19 nonprofits participating in the July 2024 Flash Consulting Event. During the event, Sahiyo collaborated with a team of Allstate employee volunteers who brought their valuable expertise to the table. Together, they developed a structured employee performance review and assessment process for Sahiyo, helping to identify key evaluation metrics and providing a customizable template tailored to our organization's needs. We are deeply grateful for their support.

By Insia Dariwala

On July 19th, Population First/ Laadli, along with Sahiyo India and Equality Now, hosted a screening of South Asia’s first fiction film on FGC titled, The Beginning. Produced by Equality Now, the film was written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and Sahiyo co-founder Insia Dariwala. The film adopts a survivor-centered approach that highlights the trauma caused by FGC to demonstrate how and why the practice must end. 

The story bravely highlights one woman’s journey to end the generational trauma caused by the cut and centers around the call to action: “The cut can stop with you.” The film is currently being screened at various festivals around the world and has already won four awards and three official selections globally.

A large group of attendees from different walks of life attended the screening, including eminent personalities and theater veterans like Dolly Thakore and Mahabano Mody Kotwal, famous for their adaptation of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ play, as well as award-winning filmmaker and LGBQT rights activist Anirban Dhar (Onir). Actors Shishir Sharma, Sujata Mehta, Hunar Gandhi, and Rashmi Sachdeva, were also in attendance along with other activists including Majlis Legal Centre Director Audrey D’mello, leading gynecologist and Medical Director of NPA India Dr. Suchetra Dalvie, FGM/C survivor and medical practitioner Dr Eliza Kapadia, Dr. Julie Thekkudan of Equality Now, Program Director of Population First Yogesh Pawar, Sahiyo co-founder Aarefa Johari, and many others. 

The screening was followed by two-panel discussions on using the creative medium to bring about positive change and how these types of media can inspire necessary conversations. Panelists discussed Sahiyo India's continued efforts to address FGM/C and stressed the need for a law banning FGM/C, as well as facilitating a continuous dialogue within communities to end this practice.

The audience was extremely moved by the film and spoke about how it holds the potential to strengthen awareness of FGM/C in the country.

The filmmaker Insia, whose main objective for the film is to motivate younger community members to question and end the practice of FGM/C, says she was elated to receive quite a few heart-warming messages from the audiences after the screening. But the one message that deeply touched her was from a Mumbai-based FGM/C survivor Sarah Shabbir* who wrote:

"My name is Sarah and I recently came across your work through an invitation for your film screening. I currently work at an organization where we focus on rehabilitating survivors of violence. I was deeply moved by your impactful efforts in addressing issues such as child sexual abuse and FGM. As a survivor myself, having experienced both, I feel a strong connection to your work and am eager to learn more about your journey. It would be an honor to connect with you someday and get to know more about your work. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there for the screening but my colleagues who did attend gave me amazing feedback and I would love to attend another screening whenever it happens.”

*Name used with consent.

Sahiyo U.S. and partners of the FGM/C Prevention & Response in Washington State project are thrilled to announce the launch of wafgmc.com, the new comprehensive resource hub for the project! This website is designed to provide essential information and updates on our initiatives in Washington (WA). 

On the site, you’ll find valuable educational resources, information on the legislative history of FGM/C in WA, and opportunities to get involved with the project. Designed to support professionals, community members, and survivors, this site ensures accessibility and engagement for all, with translation options available in various languages (such as Arabic, Spanish, French, and more).

Lastly, take some time to visit our page on upcoming training opportunities. Here, you can find details about training sessions that Sahiyo U.S. and project partner the U.S. End FGM/C Network, are planning to host over the next year on various topics related to FGM/C prevention and response. 

You can also request a specialized training by completing the request form to hold an in-person or virtual training for your group or organization. 

For more information please visit wafgmc.com.

On August 14th 2024, Sahiyo U.S. Advisory Board Member, Kaneez Madraswalla, led a FGC 101 training in collaboration with Womankind in New York City. Womankind is a leading organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence. They offer multilingual and culturally responsive services to all with a particular focus on Asian communities.

The training served as an important first step in raising awareness about FGC among Womankind’s team. Some attendees shared their personal experiences, whether that involved coming from a culture that practices FGC or knowing someone who has been impacted. This exchange of stories and insights highlighted the importance of the work we’re doing to raise awareness and support survivors. 

This introductory session laid the groundwork for Womankind to integrate FGC awareness into their community support efforts. By initiating this dialogue, we are opening the door to further education, support, and advocacy, taking crucial steps to protect and uplift those impacted by FGC.

This past July, Sahiyo hosted its eighth annual Activists Retreat virtually, welcoming activists and individuals belonging to FGC-practicing communities to discuss the impact of this harmful practice in a safe and inclusive space. Typically, this program is exclusive to activists and members in the South Asian Bohra community. However, this year’s retreat piloted an inclusive approach, welcoming 14 participants from Asian Pacific Islander (API) and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) regions. Each participant enriched the discussions and workshops by sharing their unique experiences in anti-FGC advocacy, benefiting everyone at the retreat.  

The three-day virtual retreat included an agenda packed with educational programs, self-care activities, and discussion sessions for activists to reflect on their activities together as a community. Shivangi Misra, a global legal advisor from Equality Now, was a featured speaker during the retreat who presented on the “Legal Landscape of FGM/C in the U.S. Context.” Araya Casey, from the award-winning nonprofit organization, Free2Luv, conducted an art workshop tailored to the unique experiences of activists and survivors of FGC. Activists also participated in an action planning session, which offered an opportunity for activists to discuss short-term and long-term advocacy goals, as well as reflect on recent accomplishments from past retreat participants. 

With the virtual retreat successfully concluded, planning is now underway for the in-person, Bohra-focused retreat scheduled for early 2025. 

Apply to the 2025 in-person Activists Retreat!

For additional details about the retreat and eligibility, visit the Activists Retreat page or email our Community Engagement Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..