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 each individual and to better understand all the important work they contribute towards ending FGM/C. The information below comes from an interview between Sahiyo’s former policy intern, Azalieh Erawoc, and CT Coalition member, Jo Keogh.

Jo Keogh, a member of the Advisory Board at Sahiyo, is a founding member of the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C. She is passionate about issues surrounding the practice of FGM/C due to her background as a mental health counselor working with women with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from gender-based violence.

“Trauma is one of the biggest issues we have to deal with personally, societally, globally," says Keogh, "I feel that it influences a lot of what is going on in the world today…without systemic change, healing on an individual level becomes impossible for a lot of populations.”

Keogh got involved with FGM/C advocacy after reading about how a 2017 Michigan case overturned federal law, resulting in states being responsible for criminalizing FGC and conducting educational outreach. Keogh looked for a Connecticut law to protect those at risk of undergoing the procedure, but there were none. This inspired her to search for any bills about the issue in her state. Eventually, she reached out to Mariya Taher and Sahiyo after seeing their success in Massachusetts, and thus, the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C was born.

Keogh emphasized the need for better education surrounding FGM/C for meaningful change.

“Education is everything," says Keogh."In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have a job anymore…I wouldn’t be working with discrimination claims during the day and I wouldn’t be working with traumatized women at night. None of that would be necessary”. 

Keogh herself admits that at the beginning she didn’t know much about FGM/C, assuming it was a practice that didn’t occur in today’s world, let alone in the United States.

“95% of what I know now about FGM/C, I didn’t know at the beginning. I just knew I didn’t want it to happen in my state…like me, the mass majority of people in this country have no idea what’s going on.” 

Keogh emphasizes the need for better education around FGM/C, explaining that many people ignore issues with an “it doesn’t affect me” attitude. The key is finding a way to educate people in a way that sticks and doesn't just become a social “cause of the moment” to enact long-lasting change.

Furthermore, Keogh recognizes how non-survivors of FGM/C should use their privilege to better educate themselves. She highlights her experiences of “shutting up and observing” when speaking with survivors in order to learn more about how FGM/C has affected others. Keogh has learned we shouldn’t make generalizations when speaking to survivors, and understands that not all women view their experiences as negative (for example, some women who have undergone FGM/C wear their experiences as a badge of honor). Not everyone will agree with the notions you may possess and it is important to remember that when doing this work, any advocacy “always, always, always must be survivor-centered.”

Keogh also discussed the importance of mental health for advocates trying to improve laws around FGM/C.

“I think sometimes with advocacy there’s this sense to be “on” all the time [...] and to keep fighting until it’s done," she says. "And I think it’s really important to give ourselves permission to tag out for periods of time without feeling guilt or that we’re “not doing enough." 

“It’s important to figure out how much of yourself you can give at any point in time and to honor that," she continues. "And not have guilt around that. If we come into the fight with a quarter of ourselves we’re just going to get knocked out. So, if we have to tag out, it’s ok. We can always come back in. It doesn’t mean we don’t care, it doesn’t mean we’re not passionate, it just means that we’re human”.

Keogh encourages anyone who wants to be involved to participate knowing everyone has a unique set of skills to bring to the Coalition:  

“All of us have a particular constellation of knowledge that nobody else on the planet has. Advocating from that place is, I think, really powerful”. 

Looking forward, Keogh is optimistic about the future of legislation in Connecticut and the work ahead of the Connecticut Coalition.  

“What I’m seeing is women legislators, specifically, getting angry… Anger is one of my favorite emotions. I think anger is the emotion that is the closest to love, because we only get angry about what we value, [so if] they’re angry about it, it means they value the issue. They value the idea that women and girls should have protections against being cut in this state. Passivity is the death of an issue.”

We would like to thank Jo Keogh for taking the time to sit down with our policy intern and for her continued work with the CT Coalition. To see the other interview spotlights we’ve conducted click here.

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

By Juliet Shires

In the 2024 legislative session, the Connecticut Judiciary Committee failed to raise a bill that would protect children from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Rep. Jilian Gilchrest (D) would have sponsored the bill to create educational and outreach programs, issue civil remedies for survivors, and make FGM/C a clear criminal offense in the state. This marks the need for renewed efforts to build a stronger coalition to address this issue in legislation.

Zehra Patwa, a survivor of FGM/C, U.S Advisory Board member for Sahiyo, and CT resident outlines the disappointment many feel at the negligence of not raising this bill despite widespread support:

“I’m extremely disappointed that, despite strong support from both sides of the aisle, the bill to protect girls was not raised this session. Protecting the bodily integrity of girls could not be more important especially as we know, anecdotally, that the practice of FGM/C thrives in secret. This bill would have protected girls from the practice but also would have cared for those who have undergone this practice. Not having this bill pushed through puts girls and women in danger and tells them “You are not important”. That is unacceptable in my opinion.” 

The Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C was formed in 2020 by individuals who were concerned about Connecticut being only one of nine states without legislation banning the practice of FGM/C. One such Connecticut resident included Jo Keogh, a psychotherapist who worked with organizations such as Sahiyo and the U.S. End FGM/C Network to form the original Coalition:

“About 95% of what I know now about FGM/C, I didn’t know at the beginning [of the coalition]. I just knew I didn’t want it to happen in my state,” says Keogh. Furthermore, there was fear that Connecticut could become a “safe haven” for people seeking to perform FGM/C from neighboring states in which FGM/C is illegal.

The CT Coalition aims to bring an end to the practice of FGM/C in the state by advocating for a holistic bill that includes educational outreach and input from the community, including those impacted by the FGM/C, such as survivors. One way the Coalition has garnered support for a bill is through a Change.org to ban FGM/C which has received over 80,000 signatures since its start in 2018.

The recent failure in the Connecticut legislature has shown the continued need for the Coalition’s continued work. Over 2,600 girls are at risk of undergoing FGM/C in Connecticut, despite it being globally considered a human rights violation. We need to urge the legislature to prioritize the passage of legislation surrounding FGM/C by calling on your representatives in Connecticut to take action in the next legislative session. 

Want to get involved? 

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

By Osman Mahmoudi

UNICEF reports that FGM/C remains prevalent in Iraqi Kurdistan, affecting over half of women who live there. The profound impact of this practice requires urgent medical and psychological support for survivors. However, a lack of specialized professionals in the region, and limited awareness of treatment options and complications, pose challenges. 

Cultural taboos and social constraints further impede survivors from seeking help, leading to discrimination, stigma, and reluctance to access essential services. As a family counselor and psychotherapist specializing in FGM/C,  I have conducted extensive research and provided psychological, sexual, and physical services to survivors and their partners. Between 2019 and 2023, I conducted numerous workshops for local teams in Iraqi Kurdistan, focusing on effective communication with survivors and providing comprehensive care. 

These sessions focused on understanding the complications of FGM/C and breaking the taboo’s surrounding the discussion of this practice. The workshops highlighted the lack of readily available psychological support for survivors, as well as cultural and social obstacles they face in opening up about their struggles. They also highlight how professionals – like doctors – lack awareness regarding proper treatment methods for FGM/C. However, participants' eagerness to learn and enhance care emphasized the need for continuous education and training in this domain. 

These experiences underscore the potential for improving survivor care through ongoing learning and educational initiatives. In 2023, after concluding the training sessions, the educational materials used were compiled into a publication titled “Living with FGM in Kurdish Regions.” This book aims to fill a significant gap in existing literature, and serves as a guide to help survivors enhance their quality of life. 

The book comprises five chapters, each of which explores various aspects of FGM/C:

• The first chapter dives into the historical and cultural context of the practice in Iraqi Kurdistan
• Chapter two focuses on the challenges Kurdish women face in openly discussing their experiences
• Chapter three stresses the importance of addressing survivors' physical health through comprehensive medical examinations and management strategies
• Chapters four and five explores the psychological and sexual impacts of FGM, offering insights into therapeutic interventions 

As a handbook, this publication also provides practical guidance on psychosexual therapy and social services. It marks a culture-oriented approach in the domain of “Life with female circumcision,” emphasizing the importance of respecting and empowering survivors while tailoring therapeutic approaches to their individual needs.

Related links:

Sahiyo is excited to announce an upcoming event tied to our survivor and advocate-led Critical Intersections Research Project! This original research, which has been in development for over two years, examines the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) through an intersectional lens. This includes an analysis of media on the topic (published in our first report), as well as data from a mixed-methods survey (published in our second report) and in-depth qualitative interviews (to be published later in 2024). The project seeks to understand both challenges that FGM/C survivors and activists face, as well as opportunities for cross-sector collaboration with other social justice movements. 

Critical Intersections of FGM/C: Law and Policy in Systems of Oppression is hosted by the World Bank Group’s FGM/C Legal Working Group. This presentation will center findings from Sahiyo’s research related to FGM/C, with a focus on various oppressive systems and their impact on FGM/C survivors and advocates; law and policy will be discussed within the context of religion, race/racism, and xenophobia. An intersectional framework highlights the need for those working within the FGM/C sphere to understand the complex nature of identity and its impact on the survivor experience, as well as anti-FGM/C activists to understand how their advocacy work may interact with other social justice movements. This data introduces multifaceted challenges created by intersecting social oppressions, and encourages participants to think of new possibilities. 

Event Date: April 24th

Event Time: 12:00-1:00 PM EST

Webinar link: https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_YmY3M2IxYTYtNGE2YS00OTJiLTg2NDktZDg5MjdjYWJkMDA1%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%252231a2fec0-266b-4c67-b56e-2796d8f59c36%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%252232509a77-1484-4050-8e11-946bcfa82b63%2522%257d%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=55af876c-af15-43a1-b650-237ae4f506b3&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true

If you are interested in hosting a presentation on Sahiyo’s research findings for your organization or group, please contact Sahiyo’s Research Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

In honor of Father’s Day 2024, Sahiyo’s male engagement program, Bhaiyo is launching a public awareness campaign to uplift the importance of male voices and allies in ending female genital cutting or FGC. Recognizing that FGM/C is a community health issue – not just a woman’s issue – the movement to end FGC needs additional male voices and allies to bring this issue to the forefront. 

This June, we’ll be holding a month-long campaign asking community members to share how they have raised the topic of FGC in conversation with the men in their lives – their brothers, fathers, husbands, friends, and more. 

To participate in the campaign: 

• Send us a video, quote, write-up, or photo about your experience engaging with men on the topic of FGC 
• Alternatively, you can send us a video, quote, write-up, or photo that uplifts how men can engage, educate, and build awareness about ending FGC

Submit your items to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by June 16th, 2024.  The materials will be gathered together and shared on Sahiyo’s social media platforms throughout the month of June. 

Below are some questions you can consider asking someone in your life while trying to initiate a conversation about FGC: 

• When did you first come to know about FGC? 
• What is the role men can play in educating communities about FGC? 
• How can brothers/fathers make an impact in these conversations about ending FGC? 
• What message would you like to give to all the fathers and brothers out there about ending FGC?

You can ask for your experience to be shared anonymously, if you prefer.  For comments and inquiries about the campaign, please reach out to Samman Masud at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PS: Sahiyo will soon be launching a survey around male engagement on FGC during our June Father’s Day campaign. We’ll be sharing more information in the future about how to participate!

Related links:

• How I took part in the Each One, Reach Bhaiyo Campaign: My experience with different Bhaiyos 

Sahiyo is excited to announce an upcoming event tied to our survivor and advocate-led Critical Intersections Research Project! This original research, which has been in development for over two years, examines the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) through an intersectional lens. This includes an analysis of media on the topic (published in our first report), as well as data from a mixed-methods survey (published in our second report) and in-depth qualitative interviews (to be published later in 2024). The project seeks to understand both challenges that FGM/C survivors and activists face, as well as opportunities for cross-sector collaboration with other social justice movements. 

Critical Intersections of FGM/C: The Value of Intersectionality in Cross-Collaboration, hosted by API-GBV, will focus on collaborative aspects of social justice work. In hopes of facilitating meaningful discussion around cross-sector collaboration and intersectional programming, this presentation shares challenges and opportunities to collaborative projects found in our research, with plenty of time for feedback and weigh in from the audience. Because turning data into action is the goal, and Sahiyo continues its exploration on this topic, we hope to expand our understanding with the insights of activists, frontline professionals, and other attendees of this event. 

Event Date: April 23rd

Event Time: 2:00-3:30 PM EST

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModOypqT0qG9BpxXwUcL_lIiFmUOSP_l49#/registration