On February 25, 2026, the DMV Coalition to End FGM/C, a survivor-oriented and informed coalition focused on advocacy and advancing legislation in the D.C., Maryland, and Viginia or DMV area, hosted a powerful webinar highlighting Maryland’s current FGM/C landscape. Bringing together over 40 individuals from across the state—ranging from state department employees to university students and other advocates—attendees had the opportunity to learn more about recent legislative efforts to amend the current FGM/C law, state-level prevalence data, and survivor testimonies.

We were honored to have our special guest speakers, Senator Sara Love and Josh Papers (Chief of Staff for Delegate Dana Jones), talk about their motivations behind championing the SAFE Act (HB1389/SB0907) on behalf of the DMV Coalition. 

If you are a Maryland resident or DMV resident, feel free to email Delegate Jones (dana.jones@house.maryland.gov) about your experiences or perspectives on FGM/C in the region. 

We also had the privilege of hearing from an array of speakers and panelists dedicated to ending this form of gender-based violence:

• Survivor and clinical psychologist Aleisa M. shared her moving testimony about experiencing vacation cutting as a child.  Watch the full recording of the webinar below!

• Associate Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University and Public Health Program Evaluation and Implementation Specialist, Karen McDonnell, Ph. D., introduced the DMV Coalition and highlighted the need for holistic protections within the state to make Maryland’s law more in line with D.C.’s and Virginia’s current legislation on FGM/C.

• Recently retired prosecutor with the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), who assisted redrafting of the STOP FGM Act of 2020, Susan Masling Rubel, J.D., discussed the importance of having state-level protections in addition to federal protections, especially given the variance between administrations and the current bill attempting to conflate FGM/C with gender affirming care. 

• Executive Director of Inter African Committee-USA (IAC-USA) and Co-founder of Vacances Sans Excision (Summer without FGM) Camp, Djessou Kouyate, discussed the importance of education and community provisions, as well as a vacation-cutting provision, in her work helping young girls and women advocate for their health and bodily autonomy.

Attendees also had the opportunity to hear more about FGM/C and its effects in Maryland from individuals across public health, legal, community-based, and research fields. The DMV Coalition wants to express its gratitude to the speakers and panelists, as well as the audience, for making the webinar possible. 

With the legislative session active, you can click here to follow the progress of the House bill. We look forward to continuing to work with Delegate Jones and Senator Love in advancing these amendments. 

If you are interested in getting involved with the DMV Coalition or its organizations, reach out to fgmdmvcoalition@gmail.comor info@sahiyo.comfor more information. Visit linktr.ee/DMVCoalition to learn more about FGM/C’s connection to the region and to stay updated.