Engaging Across Gendered Walls: Talking to Men about FGC
By Zahara Kagalwalla Female Genital Cutting (FGC) has long been confined to spaces occupied by women. It is spoken about in hushed tones, passed down as a “woman’s thing,” a ritual overseen and upheld by grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and elderly women in the community. Men, for the most part, remain absent—silent onlookers, if they are looking […]
Connecticut Coalition Members Testify on Bill #1438
By: Katie Bai After five years of tireless work from advocates, survivors, as well as medical and legal professionals in the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C, Bill #1438 – a bill that would protect women and girls from female genital mutilation in Connecticut – was introduced in the Connecticut Joint Committee on Judiciary. While the Coalition […]
You don’t know how much you need it until it’s over
By Umme Kulsoom Arif, Esq. I first attended a Sahiyo Activists’ Retreat in 2022, when virtual meetings were still the norm. Since then, I have been a member of the Activists’ Retreat planning committee, working on programming and logistics for in-person and virtual retreats alike. The 2025 Activists’ Retreat was my second in-person retreat. I’m not […]
Washington D.C. Passes Comprehensive Law to Protect Children from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
By: Katie Bai After six years of tireless work from survivors, advocates, and legislators, Washington, D.C. has enacted L25-0322, now D.C. § 22–1431, titled the “Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2024.” We celebrate the comprehensiveness of this law and are proud to witness D.C. become the final member of the Washington D.C., Maryland, and […]
The History of Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting via Legislation in Connecticut
By: Katie Bai Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful social norm involving the partial or total removal of female-assigned external genitalia or other injury to the female-assigned genital organs for non-medical reasons. Globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM/C. FGM/C has a long history in the United States, and currently, over […]
The History of Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Montana
By: Katie Bai Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful social norm involving the partial or total removal of female-assigned external genitalia or other injury to the female-assigned genital organs for non-medical reasons. Globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM/C. FGM/C has a long history in the United States, and currently, over […]
Urge Senator Winfield to Protect Girls from FGM/C in Connecticut
It’s been four long years of advocating for a comprehensive bill that protects girls from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Connecticut, and we’ve finally reached the point of having a raised bill that the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C supports. But we need your help. If you can, please call Senator Winfield and request that […]
Exploring Other Forms of Female Genital Alteration
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence and advocating for survivor support and prevention. This campaign seeks to open the conversation by addressing unacknowledged forms of female genital alteration. These harmful practices or procedures, while not always classified as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), share similarities in […]
Engaging the Next Generation: A Conversation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
By Katie Bai On Tuesday, February 18th, Sahiyo had the privilege of speaking to students at a Connecticut high school government class at the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering in Stamford, Connecticut (CT). Our presentation focused on the impact of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) on Connecticut communities, the urgent need for state laws, and […]
Intern Spotlight: Katie Bai
Every month, Sahiyo likes to highlight the incredible work of our staff members, fellows, and interns. Today, we’re spotlighting Sahiyo’s current Policy Intern, Katie Bai. Katie is a student at the University of Missouri and will attend Texas A&M University School of Law this fall. She aspires to pursue a career in immigration, human rights, […]