Join us for the official launch of the HOPE MA Coalition on February 6th, 2026, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
This invite-only event is designed for healthcare providers, social workers, community advocates, survivors, and allies who want to learn more or strengthen their commitment to ending FGM/C in Massachusetts. The HOPE MA Coalition Launch Event will bring attendees into the project’s vision and lay the foundation for ongoing collaboration. A networking lunch will also allow […]
Digital Storytelling’s Role in Healing and Advocacy Against Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting
The 12th International Digital Storytelling Conference (DST2025 and also known as the 1st International Conference on Social Technologies of Memory) took place in October and November 2025 with virtual and in-person events in São Paulo, Brazil. Sahiyo, Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS), and Silence Speaks co-presented a session that explored how participatory digital storytelling can advance […]
Founders Interview Series: Aarefa Johari Reflects on Sahiyo’s 10 Year Anniversary
About the Founder: Aarefa Johari is a journalist, feminist, activist, and aspiring violinist based in Mumbai, India. She has been publicly speaking out against Female Genital Cutting since 2011 and was listed by News Deeply as one of six global experts on FGC to watch out for in 2017. Around 2011 I was working as […]
Coming Together in Community: Fundraising for Sahiyo
This year, our community came together in inspiring ways to raise awareness and support for Sahiyo’s mission to end female genital cutting (FGC) and uplift survivor voices. From yoga mats to wine glasses, each gathering reminded us of the power of connection, creativity, and collective action. Yoga for Healing and AwarenessSahiyo’s Executive Director, Mariya Taher, […]
Uplifting the HOPE MA Website: A New Era for FGM/C Prevention and Empowerment
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the new website for the HOPE MA, or the Holistic Organized Partnership to End FGM/C in Massachusetts. This project is a significant step forward in our collective mission to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), promote healing, and empower communities to address this issue across Massachusetts. The HOPE […]
FGM/C in the Americas: 5 things to know about the Inter-American Human Rights hearing
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a grave human rights violation that involves the partial or total removal or other injury to the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It affects over 230 million women and girls worldwide and occurs on every continent except Antarctica. For far too long, global efforts to address FGM/C have focused […]
The Americas Alliance to Participate in IACHR Public Hearings on FGC in the Americas
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has announced the public hearings schedule for its 194th Period of Sessions, to be held from November 17 to 21, 2025, at the University of Miami. Over the course of the week, the IACHR will hold 19 public hearings addressing the human rights situation in 14 countries and […]
10 Years of Sahiyo: Spotlighting Voices to End FGM/C Alumni Renee Bergstrom
Finding My Voice, Cohort 1, 2018 In December 2025, Sahiyo will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and we’re hosting a campaign to mark the occasion! Starting in July and running through December, we will be highlighting each of our programs, reflecting on our accomplishments, and planning for the future. This month, we are highlighting Sahiyo’s Voices […]
“No tolerance for violence”: Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Hawaii
By Anonymous On October 1, 2025, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a community-organized rally in Honolulu took place, which intended to increase public consciousness surrounding the issue. Advocates emphasized that domestic violence is a critical crisis that has been on the rise since the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it “can happen to […]
Relearning Masculinity by Turning Culture into Care, not Control
By Noor Ul Sabah, Sahiyo Volunteer In every culture, stories about what it means to ‘be a man’ are told long before boys even learn how to talk. Young boys are told through gestures, silences, and rituals. They are shown in the ways fathers, brothers, and elders model strength. But when those stories teach that […]