By; Samman Masud

In this digital short film, “What Not to Say”, I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about the experiences and conversations I had with my community members around the time I gave birth to my two wonderful daughters. To some, these experiences would not necessarily qualify as microaggressions, nor are they typical cases of gender-based violence, but these discourses warrant a much needed conversation and intervention within the Pakistani and South Asian community at large, where misogyny and patriarchal norms are alive and well. 

In this film I discuss the discomfort I felt when some friends or distant relatives made comments about my second child being yet another daughter. “Do you think it’s going to be a boy this time?” and “Are you going to try for a boy next time?” were questions passed to me very nonchalantly, and although they were meant to be and might even seem like harmless little exchanges, in reality they have the potential for some far reaching and serious implications for women and girls already living in a world laden with gender-based violence. These casual conversations that dismiss the birth of one’s daughter have even bigger impacts in South Asian communities, where the normalization of such denigrating language against an already marginalized group can worsen their conditions, if not change them for the better.

We know that the preference for male children throughout societies in the international community stems from various religious, cultural, socio-economic realities, but the progress made over the years in the women’s right to work which gave them financial autonomy is shifting the tide and conversation around son-preference, somewhat, as I’ve noticed in my close circle and amongst families of my relatives in Pakistan. A completely accurate analysis of the current global trends in this practice could only be assessed through an in-depth qualitative and quantitative study that I’d love to undertake one day. Yet, despite the progress made in women and girls’ conditions around the world, cultural practices like son-preference remain deep-rooted, difficult to eradicate and have grave consequences for women and girls. 

I believe that the first step to protecting women and girls can begin at home, where we can disrupt the slightest, subtle conversations that give preferential treatment to male children and men. The opportunity to participate in this storytelling workshop allowed me to discuss this topic that may not seem harmful at the outset, but is in fact part and parcel of the larger problem of gender-based violence. I am lucky to have grown-up in a family where my sister and I were loved and treated equally as our brother, and so was the case for my cousins and friends. But growing up within a South Asian community, I could not ignore the prayers and blessings women gave to expectant mothers about giving birth to a son. I had heard of secret abortions of girl children that took place in India and Pakistan, but a women and gender studies course that looked at an in-depth study of sex-selective abortions among college educated Indian American women in the U.S. blew my mind. Of course I had seen gut-wrenching documentaries with the disturbing stats on the number of girls missing from the world due to the infanticide and femicide epidemic across rural populations. But this revelation of educated women’s preference for sons due to whatever socio-economic backdrops and discourses around feminist agency reasoning was eye-opening. 

So during my second pregnancy, I wasn’t surprised when some educated women around me casually asked whether I would try for a boy next time. I’ve learned through these exchanges that degrees from institutions do little to disrupt archaic ideas through which practices like gender-based abortions, or female genital cutting are allowed to continue. Instead, community education and public awareness can bring incremental change and eventually end them. This workshop allowed me to do just that and hopefully will raise awareness about an issue through a storytelling medium that truly has a transformative potential and one I love so much.

Samman Masud serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Sahiyo, where her responsibilities include overseeing the Activists Retreat Program and spearheading the male engagement initiative focused on educating and raising community awareness about female genital cutting. Her background features extensive engagement in human rights advocacy, including roles within the strategic communications department and participation in human rights for youth campaigns at Amnesty International USA. Samman holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master’s in Human Rights and Women & Gender Studies, reflecting her deep academic and practical interest in advancing gender equality and human rights.

By The Anole Sister

Being an Anole Sisters member, I am an FGM/C survivor. For the past four decades, I have lived with this experience. Since 2015, I have been advocating for and raising awareness about FGM/C along with other survivors, women, and girls at risk. However, I had never shared my story publicly until I joined the Sahiyo Voices to End FGM/C workshop in 2024.

At the workshop, I created a video and shared a story from my childhood that had been buried deep within me. This act of sharing not only inspired me but also resonated with many in the audience, breaking a long-held silence. Now, I feel much more empowered to encourage others to share their stories, to let go, and to continue advocating against FGM/C. I used to be nervous about sharing my story with other people, but not anymore. I love my story, that's why I chose to tell it and attend the workshop. 

I also wanted to attend the workshop so that I could hear other people's stories, and so that we could learn from each other. I want my story to bring awareness to the issue and to the community. I also want people who don’t know about the practice to learn more about FGM/C, so more people might share stories that are similar to mine. In this workshop, I really enjoyed learning, and listening to all the stories of the other participants, each of which are different and important. 

My advocacy is something that will never stop. We still have a lot of sisters who have been through this practice. I want to help them speak about that and encourage others to share their experiences too, so that people can learn about FGM/C. I also want to continue my advocacy because I want this program to continue. There are a lot of sisters back home who have never shared their stories and it’s very important for them to come together and learn from each other.

My story is my own, and no one can hold me back from sharing it.

By Sinnah Bangura

After I had my daughter, I was introduced to a support group with other survivors of FGC. I found a YouTube video where a survivor was speaking about her experience undergoing the practice and the impact it’s had on her life. It was at this point that I began to understand more about what had happened. In the support group, we talked about a variety of different topics like the impact of FGC, how to talk about the practice to other people who may not know what FGC is, and how FGC impacts motherhood. It was in the support group that I also began to learn about clitoral restoration surgery and the benefits of the procedure. I had my surgery done in California with Dr. Bowers, for which I will forever be grateful.

After finding out about the support group, being welcomed with open arms, and being offered a safe space, I found the courage to talk about my story. When the opportunity to open up about my story with Sahiyo came up, I was up for it and willing to share my story again. I wanted to speak out and raise awareness about the surgery. I wanted my fellow sisters to know that there is a surgery out there and that anything is possible no matter what you’ve gone through. It's not where you’ve been but where you’re going. I was also excited about coming together with my fellow survivors and sharing our stories, as well as bonding with them over our shared experiences. 

When I went through FGC, something was taken away and I was determined to find a solution. The surgery has had a huge impact on my healing journey; it has allowed me to feel more confident, made it easier for me to speak out about my experience, and made me determined to tell others about it and its benefits.

In addition to sharing stories, what I most enjoyed during the workshop was bonding with my fellow survivors. I really enjoyed the dinner that fellow storytellers, Rufo, LP,  and I went to at an Indian restaurant. The food was really great and I learned a thing or two about India. Also, I enjoyed the workshop itself – everybody coming together, talking to one another, and shedding some tears about our experiences. I enjoyed working with the Sahiyo, Silence Speaks, and Asian Women’s Shelter staff, too; they were amazing, assisting us through our storytelling and editing process.

I want to raise awareness and help end this harmful practice. I want my story to give my fellow survivors the courage to speak out about their experiences so they too can start the process of healing. That is the only way I believe change will happen. I wholeheartedly believe that one day this practice will come to an end.

Sinnah Bangura, a dedicated Generation Hope Scholar, a nonprofit organization that advocate for student parents nationally & help teen parents thrive in college. A wife, and parent from Sierra Leone, is currently pursuing her Associate in Education. With three children—Romeo, Layla, and Omar— she balances her studies while looking forward to transferring to university for a degree in Education. Sinnah is driven by a passion to share her story with the world, aiming to raise awareness and help end harmful practices. She is particularly eager to discuss her journey, including her surgery, with fellow survivors, offering hope and information about available options. Sinnah finds joy in creativity, especially through music and dance, and she approaches life with a strong enthusiasm for continuous learning.

Why did you want to attend the workshop and share your story?

I've had the opportunity to talk about my experience with female genital mutilation (FGM) and the ways in which it has impacted my life and my community. However, finding a platform that allows me to take ownership of my story—and have autonomy and control over the things that I share—is rare. So, when I heard about this opportunity, I thought it was amazing that there was a workshop where I could tell my story on my own terms.

What story did you choose to tell and create into a digital story?

My story was told in multiple parts. I talked about how FGM affects sexual intimacy; how it led me to become a child's rights activist; and how it has shaped my work as a human rights advocate. My story also reflects how I see FGM as something that does not define me because there are so many other wonderful aspects of my life. I don’t like being called a victim because I’m not—I am a survivor, that's how I define myself. I have gone on in life to achieve amazing things. I was part of the movement that led to the ban on FGM in The Gambia, and continue to be involved in protecting this ban. More recently, I have been involved in efforts to maintain the ban when it was threatened with repeal by Parliament. While this effort was successful, there is still more work to be done. We need to ensure the law remains in place to prevent a reoccurrence of the challenges we faced in the past several months. Additionally, we need to make sure that the law is fully implemented and enforced while continuously engaging with communities on the importance of sustaining the law. 

What have you learned or most enjoyed during the workshop and by meeting others who shared their stories?

What I enjoyed the most about the workshop was the safe space created for us.  This was particularly important to me because, although most of us were survivors of FGM, our experiences and stories were different. I was glad that we could all talk about our journeys on our own terms. I also appreciated the welcoming environment, which allowed everyone, including non-survivors, to share their voices. This openness, I believe, made it comfortable and safe for everyone to be vulnerable and share their thoughts and feelings. It’s like we created our own community as we held space for one another while bearing witness to each other’s stories as they were told. I also appreciated and valued the accommodations made to ensure that all participants had the best possible experience. It’s things like this that made the workshop a special and meaningful space to be a part of.  

What kind of impact would you like your story to have? 

I want people to start looking at survivors as people who have a voice—as people who have the right to share their stories and deserve to do so with dignity on their own terms. I also hope to inspire more people to get involved in the advocacy to end FGM. Through my story, I want people to understand the life-changing impact this practice has on women and girls. I want others to recognize the irreparable harm it causes in many different ways and understand why this practice must end.

Is there anything in your digital story that you would like to share?

I’d like to share this: if we don't take an intersectional approach in addressing FGM, we risk perpetuating even more problems and causing significant harm. For example, if the ban against FGM in The Gambia can be threatened, so can other laws prohibiting gender and sexual violance, such as the anti-child marriage law. We need to ensure that when we talk about FGM, we frame it within the broader context of all other forms of gender-based violence and oppression because, in many ways, they are all interconnected. 

Musu Bakoto Sawo is a feminist human rights lawyer with over 18 years of experience in children’s and women's rights advocacy and activism. She holds a Master of Laws in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa and a Master of Global Affairs in International Peace Studies and Gender Studies. With over 10 years of leadership experience in program and policy development, advocacy, and fundraising, Musu has made significant contributions to non-profit organizations as well as public institutions in The Gambia and across the African continent.

Musu is also the recipient of numerous international and African human rights awards, including the 2018 Commonwealth Points of Light from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; the 2020 Daily Trust African of the Year; and the Vera Chirwa Award from the Center for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. All these awards recognize her work for women and girls in The Gambia and beyond, particularly in relation to harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM). Her advocacy efforts contributed to the enactment of the legislation that banned both FGM and child marriage in The Gambia.

Why did you want to attend the workshop and share your story?

I was interested in attending the workshop as it was the first one that I had come across that focused on survivors of FGM/C. I wanted to connect with other survivors and hear their stories, while also being able to share my own story with other survivors as well. I felt like it was going to be a journey for my healing process, which is still ongoing.

I wanted to share my story with the world so people can start to understand how this practice can affect a person both physically and mentally, I also wanted to share my story to help others. I've been an activist for years and had spoken against other topics, like arranged marriages for young girls and other horrible things, but never about FGM/C – never my personal story. Many of the young girls I try to help don’t always understand that I was in a similar situation to them and that I really know how they feel. That's another reason why I wanted to speak out – to make the young girls I help feel seen and heard.

What story did you choose to tell and create into a digital story?

I spoke about my experience with FGM/C and how I went through it unknowingly. 

I was around 12 or 13 years old when it happened. I spoke about the process of it – the pain of it, and the embarrassment of being exposed as a teenager to a group of adult women like that. Then later the misplaced excitement  as my community told me that being cut was something to be proud of. 

It would not be until much later in my life that I would realize what was taken from me, that I would fully understand the scope and depth of my trauma. It felt embarrassing to speak about it  for many years. Due to the fact that I was just beginning to come to terms with what had happened and because I was fearful of reactions from my community. I knew that if I spoke out against FGM/C, I would be criticized by both my community and those outside of it who did not understand the complexity of FGM/C.

I was living in denial really, of what happened to me, and I came to this realization that if I kept it inside, I would never heal from it. So that's [another reason] why I decided to share my story –to ensure that I get some healing. 

What have you learned or most enjoyed during the workshop and by meeting others who have shared their stories?

It was one of the best workshops I've had in several years. I've gone to other workshops where people just meet and they share powerful stories, but these ones were really impactful to me. The fact that these women have been deprived of their rights, but are still standing strong and coming out against the practice. It gave me a lot of strength and courage. Being able to mingle and talk with these women and create a bond of love and sisterhood between us was one of the most powerful parts of the workshop for me. 

I think the workshop has [also] helped me be more open to sharing my story with others. Before the workshop, I would just speak up against other forms of gender-based violence, even though I knew that FGM/C was wrong. Now after the workshop and speaking with other survivors, I feel more comfortable speaking on the topic.

However I’m still on my healing journey. I’m not 100% comfortable sharing my experience with everyone, particularly my brother and my community. Sometimes I worry about how they will react to my story once it’s out there – what will they say? But I also know that the more I tell the story, the easier it will get. That’s why I hope that the digital story will help me [explore] other platforms and connect me to other organizations also fighting this practice. 

What kind of impact would you like your story to have?

I want my story to open up the eyes of communities that still practice FGM/C and [shed light on] the effects and how traumatizing practice can be. When people look at us, we [seem] physically okay. We are driving, we are doctors, we are whatever…but something deep inside has been affected, been taken, and we need to acknowledge that. 

When you get to sit down with a woman that has gone through FGM/C, she may just burst out into tears when she tells you what she’s gone through because it has been buried deep within. So I would love my story to expose the emotional harm of the practice, and to give others an idea of how FGM/C affects a survivor for the rest of their lives. For example, going through the practice can make it difficult to form connections and relationships, because of embarrassment, sexual discomfort. In some cases, FGM/C makes it diffcult for women to have children. 

I will always feel that FGM/C took away my voice. It made me feel like I could not speak up boldly anymore. Now that I have shared my story, I feel more confident in helping others who have been through the practice. I would want my story to empower people out there to speak up as well.

Is there anything from your digital story that you would like to share here?

Yes, I would like to talk about the person who is the reason for me being able to share my story in the first place– my partner. He’s always been very supportive of me and my work, [and] he’s been a really positive force in my life. So when I heard about the workshop I told him about it. I was a little hesitant to attend, but he really convinced me to go and he encouraged me to speak up without fear. If I didn’t have his reassurance and support, I’m so sure that I would never have felt brave enough to speak about my experience.

Emily Lerosion is a Samburu Indigenous woman leader originally from Laikipia North, Kenya, now based in Washington State. In addition to her roles as a wife and mother, she is a dedicated development worker and a passionate human rights activist, focusing her advocacy on the rights of women, girls, and vulnerable children. She proudly represents several prestigious organizations, including CIVICUS World Alliance, the UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, and the Universal Periodic Review Kenya team, while also contributing as a member of the Women and Gender Constituency. Her academic background includes graduating from the Deep Democracy Institute as a Trainer of Trainers and completing the 8th edition of the FIMI Global Leadership School, along with a degree in Advocacy and Human Rights from Columbia University. She has started a new role as an Advisory Committee Member for the Washington State FGM/C Project. She firmly believes in the transformative power of collective action, emphasizing that “Women can make a real difference, only if they team up, stand up for their voices, and act.”

By Elaina Baliner

Sahiyo’s Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a minor in Biology. A passionate global health equity advocate, Elaina actively seeks to maximize positive impact and close health equity gaps. Recently Elaina sat down with Sahiyo's Editorial Assistant, Megan Seaver, to discuss the connection between Sahiyo's mission to end FGC and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals? 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), are the 17 benchmarks set by the UN in order to achieve peace and prosperity for both people and the planet. These goals center on a One Health approach, meaning that the health of people, planet, and animals all intersect with each other. They are designed to break silos within the UN, addressing a longstanding issue of treating personal health, animal health, and planetary health as separate concerns rather than recognizing them as inherently interconnected.

The SDGs are critical in guiding the global effort to push for a better world, addressing a range of interconnected challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. For Sahiyo, the goals that are most closely aligned to our mission of ending FGC are: SGD 3 Good Health and Well-being for All, and SDG 5 Gender Equality — specifically target 5.3 — which calls for the elimination of all harmful practices, including FGC. 

How do the goals of Good Health and Wellbeing for All, and Gender Equality, relate to Sahiyo’s mission?

Sahiyo aligns with SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing for all, by advocating for the health rights of women and girls. FGC can lead to severe health complications such as chronic pain, infections, increased risk in child rearing complications, psychological trauma, and so much more. By raising awareness of FGC, Sahiyo also shines a light on the physical, mental, and social issues that the practice causes. 

Sahiyo also works closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that when survivors do seek care for complications related to FGC, the care they receive is culturally sensitive and wholly beneficial for the survivor. 

SDG 5, Gender Equality, is at the heart of Sahiyo's work. The third target of SDG 5, also referred to as SDG 5.3, calls for the elimination of FGC. By providing resources and skills to communities affected by FGC, Sahiyo uplifts survivors’ voices, helping them to share their stories with the world and providing a space for narrative autonomy, which is crucial in promoting gender equality.

Why do you think it’s important that Sahiyo ensure that its projects and programs connect to these goals outlined by the UN?

Connecting our work to the UN goals situates FGC within a broader global context, highlighting that it is not merely a local or regional issue, but a critical matter of international concern. 

Additionally, aligning with the SDGs ensures that our projects are contributing to measurable, impactful change. The SDGs provide a framework for tracking progress and accountability, allowing us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our interventions in a globally recognized manner.

Finally, by aligning with these goals, we can better advocate for the necessary support and resources to expand our impact, demonstrating that our efforts to end FGC and protect women and girls are part of the collective global movement toward a more equitable and healthier future for all.

Do you think that the UN is doing enough to address FGC?

The UN has made significant strides in addressing FGC through initiatives like the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM and the joint UNFPA-UNICEF program. While these efforts have been impactful, there is a pressing need for the UN to expand its scope and reach. The movement to end FGC must be a global one, requiring the UN to broaden its programs to include populations in Western countries and additional nations beyond the current focus on African and Middle Eastern countries in order to meet the 2030 goal of ending the practice. So, while the UN's efforts have reached millions, leveraging their resources to expand this movement can drive even greater impact, ensuring no woman or girl is left behind in the fight against FGC.

What are some programs and initiatives that Sahiyo has done that you think connect to these goals?

One of the programs that has touched me the most is Sahiyo’s Voices to End FGM/C initiative. This initiative empowers survivors, particularly from underrepresented communities, to share their stories through digital narratives. Their bravery in speaking out, often against cultural expectations, helps break the silence around FGC, fostering empathy and creating the foundation for real social change.

Moreover, Sahiyo's focus on movement building is deeply aligned with both the SDGs and the UN’s joint program’s efforts to create a global movement against FGC. Through initiatives like our Activists Retreat, survivor-led policy coalitions, and technical training seminars, Sahiyo has found that as more people speak out and stimulate dialogue, we reach a threshold where change becomes more likely. By building this coalition of voices—survivors, advocates, and community members—we generate powerful momentum toward ending the practice.

What are some ways that you would address these goals and Sahiyo's mission?

A significant way that Sahiyo could further address SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) is by expanding our healthcare provider training program into a comprehensive, adaptable curriculum suitable for both medical schools and continuing education for practicing healthcare professionals. On the research front, Sahiyo has conducted meaningful studies on prevalence, cultural intersections, and survivor narratives, addressing critical data gaps identified by the UN as obstacles to ending the practice. To build on this foundation, pursuing economic impact research would be a powerful next step, providing critical data to inform policy and advocacy. These initiatives are within Sahiyo’s reach and reflect our commitment to addressing SDG 3 and SDG 5. However, realizing them requires the support and resources that come from our community and donors. It is through collective action that we can continue to empower survivors, educate communities, and drive sustainable change.

If you or someone you know wants to impact our work to end FGC, then we invite you to click the link below and make a donation to Sahiyo. It is through donations like yours that our work is possible. 

Donate Here.