By: Katie Bai

On July 1st, 2025, the DMV Coalition to End FGM/C hosted an impactful webinar, titled “A History of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Washington D.C.,” that brought together over 40 attendees from across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond! The event was a powerful reminder of the strength and momentum behind the movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in our country.

The DMV Coalition is a survivor-informed coalition working to protect children and support those who have experienced FGM/C in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, (DMV). The Coalition is committed to working in connection and collaboration with survivors, nonprofit organizations, community members, policymakers, researchers, and other committed individuals to build a collective movement toward ending FGM/C.

A major focus of the webinar event was to celebrate the recent passage of D.C. Law 25-322, a hard-fought legislative win. It protects children from FGM/C in the District and includes critical components such as the inclusion of community education and engagement, and establishes FGM/C as an obligation of mandated reporters and requires the D.C. Department of Health to create and distribute materials on the prevention of and responses to FGM/C.

We were honored to be joined by the following panel of expert speakers:

• Founder and Executive Director of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, Angela Peabody, introduced the DMV Coalition to End FGM/C, outlining its mission to protect children, support survivors, and build a collaborative movement grounded in community and survivor leadership.
• Legal Advisor at Equality Now, Shivangi Misra, emphasized the urgent need for state-level anti-FGM/C legislation, especially in Maryland and Virginia, and discussed how D.C.’s law can serve as a model for other jurisdictions.
• Director of the U.S. End FGM/C Network Caitlin LeMay provided an overview of D.C. Law 25-322, explaining the law’s development, key provisions, and the coalition-based advocacy that led to its passage.
• Lizzie Verhoff, a medical student at George Washington University, focused on the healthcare and preventative elements of the law, highlighting how medical providers can play a key role in prevention, education, and trauma-informed care.

Throughout the session, attendees learned more about the DMV Coalition’s mission: to protect children, support survivors, and build a collective, survivor-informed movement to end FGM/C in the region. The webinar offered a space for learning, reflection, and connection, and many participants expressed their interest in getting more involved in future advocacy and outreach efforts.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, asked questions, and contributed to the conversation. Your presence and passion help sustain this movement. We look forward to continuing the momentum through education, community collaboration, and policy change.

Watch the webinar recording below!

Want to join the movement?
Stay connected with us by contacting us at info@sahiyo.org, or following us on social media @sahiyovoices on Instagram and Facebook!