Climate Change, Displacement And The Rising Risk Of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
By Mannat K, Sahiyo Volunteer When we think about the impacts of climate change, we often focus on rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and threats to food security. What receives far less attention is how environmental crises disproportionately harm women and girls, particularly those in vulnerable communities, by intensifying gender-based violence such as female […]
Reflections from London: Survivor-Experts on Healing, Solidarity, and the Future of the Anti-FGM/C Movement
By Renee Bergstrom In December 2025, Sahiyo and Dr. Leyla Hussein convened a small, in-person gathering of seven survivors and experts from Africa, Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The meeting created space to foster honest dialogue, promote healing in solidarity, and discuss how anti-racist narratives have impacted the FGM/C movement. Participants also […]
Beyond the Statute: The Role of South Asian Lawyers in Ending FGM/C
Date: April 2nd Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm EST Type: Virtual This one-hour event situates FGM/C within a North American context and explores the role lawyers can play beyond the courtroom in prevention, advocacy, and survivor-centered support. The virtual panel will introduce participants to the current legal framework around FGM/C in the United States and Canada, while […]
CelebrateHer 2026: Comedy, Community, and Supporting Survivors During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are reminded that safety, dignity, and freedom from violence are fundamental human rights. Gender-based violence takes many forms, including female genital cutting (FGC), a harmful practice rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances. When carried out by family members, FGC can also be considered a form of domestic violence. […]
Sahiyo Executive Director Mariya Taher Speaks at UN Human Rights Council Panel on Digital Technologies and Ending FGM
On February 23rd, 2026, the Human Rights Council convened for a high-level panel discussion on the role of digital technologies in preventing and eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM). The panel brought together senior representatives from United Nations entities, member and observer states, and civil society to examine how digital innovation can help accelerate efforts to […]
Hawaii Policy Update House Bill 2448 Addressing FGM/C Advances out of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
By Karishma Patel House Bill 2448 (HB 2448) represents an important step forward for Hawaii in strengthening the state’s protections to safeguard girls from gender-based violence, such as FGM/C, and ensuring that survivors of this harmful practice can seek the justice that they deserve. Introduced by Representative Linda Ichiyama, House Bill 2448 criminalizes acts of […]
Investing in Lasting Impact: How the Sahiyo Endowment Supports Survivor-Led Change
At Sahiyo, our work to support survivors of female genital cutting (FGC) and advance gender justice depends on the dedication of survivor leaders and the generosity of our supporters. While program and event donations are vital, long-term sustainability requires a different kind of investment: the Sahiyo Endowment. What Is the Sahiyo Endowment? The Sahiyo Endowment […]
Silence No More: Confronting Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Hawaii
By Mariya Taher In 2025, Hawaii proudly ranked as the best state in the nation for women’s equality, a testament to the deeply held Hawaiian values of respect and care for wahine. Yet, beneath this veneer of progress, a silent violence persists: female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a form of gender-based violence outlawed in most of […]
Connecticut Raises Bill to Protect Children from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Judiciary Committee for 2026 Legislative Session
By: Khushi Prakash On February 18, 2026 the proposal to protect children from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) was formally placed on the Judiciary Committee agenda, and the very next day, Raised Bill No. 259 was introduced. This bill is a needed step forward for survivor protections in Connecticut. What the bill does Next Steps The […]
Advancing Protections: Connecticut Legislators Briefed on the Urgent Need for Comprehensive Legislation Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
By: Khushi Prakash On January 29th, 2026, the Connecticut Coalition to End Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) partnered with the Commission on Women, Chidlren, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) to host an informational briefing for Connecticut legislators and their staff at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Survivors, advocates, and members of the CT […]