All countries, NOW, required to track FGC for U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
For far too long, FGC has been misunderstood and misrepresented as only an “African” problem. Indeed, we hear terrifying stories about the practice of FGC and the horrific physical and mental consequences on women and girls from those countries. Yet, there has been a huge silence on the occurrence of FGC in other parts of […]
‘If Allah has sent us whole, why should we cut for the sake of God?’
(Trigger Warning: The story below is a powerful account of one woman’s memory of FGC. We are grateful to her for sharing with us the details of her experience.) By Saleha Paatwala Country: Noida, India Age: 23 I was 7 years of age when one day my grandma took me to an unfamiliar place. I was informed […]
Each One, Reach One – A FGC Public Outreach Campaign
Each One, Reach One A campaign to raise awareness about female genital cutting among Bohras by Sahiyo and Speak Out on FGM February 6 – March 8, 2016The Bohras are the only known community in India to practice female circumcision, a ritual that involves cutting the tip of a young girl’s clitoris. The practice is also called female […]
First Online Study on Khatna Conducted by Sahiyo
First Online Study on Khatna Conducted by Sahiyo In 2015, Sahiyo embarked on a mission to better understand the extent, purpose, and impact of the practice of khatna of FGC within the Dawoodi Bohras. Acknowledging that this practice is a very personal and sensitive topic within the community, and that almost no one speaks about […]
Wadi and Aware organize first ever conference on Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting in Singapore
(Originally published on Stop FGM Middle East on January 9, 2016. Republished here with permission). By Hannah Wettig Women from Malaysia, Thailand, India and Singapore joined on Thursday in Singapore to present their perspectives on FGM/C in their countries and discuss ways to eliminate the practice. It is the first time that such a meeting […]
It was a part of me…part of my womanhood…
(Trigger Warning: The story below is a powerfully, vivid account of one woman’s memory of FGC. We are grateful to her for sharing with us the details of her experience) By Mariya Ali Country: United Kingdom I have very few memories of my childhood, but one memory in particular stands out and haunts me to this […]
The Practice of Khatna or Female Genital Mutilation amongst the Dawoodi (Daudi) Bohra Shia Muslim Community – Part 1
(originally published on Ms. Dilshad Tavawala’s wordpress.com blog on January 17, 2016. Reposted here with permission) By Ms. Dilshad Tavawalla, B.A., LL.M., Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public – Toronto, Canada Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) has been an international cause célèbre, and generated remarkable global attention for the past several decades. At international and intergovernmental levels, there is unequivocal […]
FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING A Continuing Tradition
(Original Post on Imagining Equality Project Page, published in July 2014 by Global Fund for Women & International Museum of Women) In this deeply personal piece, author Mariya Taher wrestles with and speaks out against khatna, female genital cutting, a tradition practiced by her family community. Read her story and the stories of six other interviewees below. *** Having […]
Documentary ‘A Pinch of Skin’ highlights FGC in India
A Pinch of Skin, a short documentary made in 2012, depicts the practice of Female Genital Cutting, also known as khatna or sunnat by the Dawoodi Bohras in India. Screened worldwide, the film received the prestigious National Award of India for being the first documentary to highlight the taboo practice of khatna. The film brings […]
SIGN ANTI-FGC PETITION TODAY!
In 2011, an anonymous Bohra woman using the name ‘Tasleem’ made the first attempt to end the practice of female khatna through an online petition on Change.org. That petition was addressed to Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin and received less than 4,000 signatures. The Bohra community has come a long way since then. On December 1, […]