Intern Spotlight: Policy Intern Rachel Aguilar
Rachel Aguilar is a fourth-year at the University of Chicago where she is a Dean’s, University, and Dewey Scholar. She majors in Political Science and minors in Inequality, Social Problems, and Change. Rachel recently joined Sahiyo as a Policy Intern. How did you first get involved with Sahiyo? I first got involved with Sahiyo because […]
Legislative Updates: Connecticut Moves Closer to Passing a Bill to Support Survivors of Female Genital Cutting
It’s been a busy year so far in Connecticut when it comes to advocating to end female genital cutting, (FGC)! Here are some updates we’d like to share with you all: Legislative Developments On February 4th, in honor of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), State Representative Jillian Gilchrest and State […]
Join Sahiyo, the Asian Women’s Shelter, and Silence Speaks for a Parallel Event at the 69th Session of Commission on the Status of Women in New York
On March 18, 2025, Sahiyo, in collaboration with the Asian Women’s Shelter and Silence Speaks, will host a parallel event at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York City (NYC). The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a global body committed to the protection, advancement, […]
Supporting Survivors in the LGBTQIA+ Community: How Sahiyo Helped Afiqa Attend the ASEAN Queer Leadership Week
In October 2024 I participated in the ASEAN Queer Leadership Week (AQLW), in Bangkok, Thailand, organized by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. I represented the End FGC Singapore campaign and was awarded the Sahiyo Advocacy Travel Scholarship in 2024, which supported my participation in the program. The leadership program was aimed at building the capacities of […]
Uniting to End FGM/C Across the Americas: A Joint Statement
This February 6th – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, in recognition of this year’s theme – “Stepping Up the Pace. Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM,” we are delighted to announce the formation of the Americas Alliance to End FGM/C. The Americas Alliance will serve as a coalition of […]
Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Recognizes International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C
The Connecticut (CT) Coalition to End FGM/C, of which Sahiyo is a founding member, is so pleased to see that Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz has issued a citation to recognize February 6th as International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, a day to “take time to support women and girls” and end this harmful […]
Sahiyo research uplifts how intersectionality impacts the movement to end FGM/C this February 6th
In recognition of Feb 6th, International Day of Zero Tolerance to End FGM/C, and this year’s theme “Stepping up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM,” our upcoming publication of Sahiyo’s third and final Critical Intersections Research Project report Examining Intersections Between Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Social Oppressions: A Qualitative Study could […]
Sahiyo’s response to recent Executive Orders by the Trump Administration
To our Sahiyo community, We realize that the past few weeks have been stressful to say the least. With the new administration’s slew of Executive Orders targeting the most vulnerable and the dismantlement of DEI programs at various organizations, we acknowledge that fear and trepidation are on the rise. If you’re in need of support, […]
Sahiyo condemns recent executive order conflating female genital mutilation/cutting with gender-affirming care
At Sahiyo, we are disheartened and frustrated by the harmful conflation between female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and gender-affirming care made in a recent Executive Order issued by the Trump Administration. While this is unfortunately not the first attempt made by government officials to co-opt anti-FGM/C legislation to criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth, […]
Calling CT Residents to Action – Ban FGM/C in Connecticut
Connecticut legislatures have recently introduced House Bill 6596 to protect girls and women from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Connecticut is one of only nine states without legislation protecting children from FGM/C. FGM/C is a human rights violation and an extreme form of gender-based violence which causes severe physical and psychological damage. The introduction of this […]