Protecting CT Girls by Ending FGM/C: Informational Briefing for Legislators and Staff
Date: 1/29/2026 Time: 10 to 11:30 am Briefing; 11:30 to 12:30 ; Networking Lunch with Legislators Location: LOB Hearing Room 2A; Networking Lunch – 2nd floor Atrium Description: An informational briefing to Connecticut legislators and their staff ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session. The briefing will provide background information on FGM/C as a human rights […]
Join Us for Sahiyo’s 12th Activists Retreat in February 2026
Sahiyo will host its 12th Activists Retreat virtually from February 13-15, 2026. Open exclusively to members of the South Asian Bohra community, this retreat provides a safe, inclusive space for advocates and community members to share stories, build solidarity, and explore practical strategies to address FGC. Through dialogue, reflection, and collective action planning, participants will […]
Sahiyo in London: Confronting Racial Hierarchies Within the Global Movement to End FGM/C
From December 10-12, 2025, Sahiyo, in partnership with Dr Leyla Siirad Hussein Gikand, embarked on a critical initiative to confront and dismantle anti-Blackness and racial hierarchies within the global movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the city of London. Sahiyo’s recent research, stemming from the Critical Intersections research project, highlighted significant challenges, including […]
Intern Spotlight: Abigail Moisan
By Abigail Moisan Every month, Sahiyo likes to highlight the incredible work of our staff members, fellows, and interns. Today, we’re spotlighting Sahiyo’s current Editorial Intern, Abigail Moisan. Abigail is a graduate from Colby-Sawyer College where she majored in Creative and Professional Writing and minored in Nutrition. She believes personal stories are the foundation for […]
Strengthening Maryland’s Law Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: The SAFE Act and the Path Forward
By Nareen Pogozelski On November 1, 2025, the DMV Coalition to End FGM/C — a regional coalition of organizations working to end gender-based violence in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, of which Sahiyo is a member — had the privilege of presenting our bill proposal at the 30th Annual Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) […]
Dear Maasi: How Do I Regain Pleasure After Going Through FGM?
Dear Maasi, is a column about everything you wanted to know about sex and relationships but were afraid to ask! It’s a partnership between Sahiyo and WeSpeakOut, and is for all of us who have questions about khatna (female genital mutilation/cutting or FGM/C) and how it impacts our bodies, minds, sexualities and relationships. We welcome […]
H.R. 3492: A Bane Masquerading as a Boon
By Anjalika Sarkar Introduction H.R. 3492, also known as the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, was recently passed by the House of Representatives in the United States. This bill has been introduced and falsely framed as a way to protect children from genital and bodily mutilations and chemical castrations. Yet, this piece of legislation makes a […]
Who Can Help? A Guide to Finding the Right Medical Care for Survivors of Female Genital Cutting
By Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy and Dr. Stacia Crochet While research indicates that there are over 500,000 women and girls in the United States who may have experienced or be at risk for female genital cutting (FGC), the reality is that many physicians, nurses, and other health care workers in the US may not know much […]
The Leaking House
By: Inisa Jaliwala I was told the house I grew up in was a hundred years old. I’d repeat this to my friends at school proudly, relishing the mystique of living in a century-old home. I later learned this was a hyperbole – a story told to describe the decrepit state of our building. The […]
Healing, Resistance, and Care: What Ethiopia’s Movement Against Female Genital Cutting Taught Me:
By: Dr. Zinia Afrin Doza (MBBS, MPH) I first heard about female genital cutting (FGC) when I started volunteering with the NGO called the Inter-African Committee (IAC), which worked to eliminate harmful practices, specifically child marriage & FGC. As a medical doctor and public health professional from Bangladesh, I thought I understood most of the […]