When we talk about female genital cutting (FGC), the number that always gets cited is 230 million. 230 million women and girls around the world who have undergone or are at risk of undergoing the practice. But behind that number are 230 million stories. 230 million voices. 230 million lives marked by something that is often left unspoken.
And that’s just the data that has been collected.
At Sahiyo, we know that statistics matter, but stories are what stay with us. That’s why we’re closing out the first month of our 10-year anniversary campaign with a powerful, exclusive event: a virtual screening and discussion of UNMUTED — a documentary series that dares to tell the stories so often silenced.
We’ll be screening UNMUTED Episode 2, Cutting Season, which takes an intimate look at the global movement to end FGC. The UNMUTED docuseries follows eight women from across the globe as they reclaim agency and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of gender-based violence. A 2024 Clinton Global Initiative selection and a Realscreen MIPTV Pick, UNMUTED dives into the complex realities behind harmful practices like child marriage, acid attacks, and FGC—and the non-traditional solutions that individuals and grassroots organizations are using to protect women and girls.
This screening is a call to pause and reflect. A chance to bear witness. A moment to be in conversation with the stories behind the statistics.
We’re especially honored to be joined by Renee Bergstrom, a member of Sahiyo’s advisory board and a featured voice in this episode, as well as Charlotte Lubert, Executive Producer of UNMUTED and part of the Without Exception Films team. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A panel with representatives from the UNMUTED production team, where audience members will have the chance to ask questions and engage directly with this topic.
We’re partnering with Picture Motion, the series’ distributor, to bring this exclusive screening to our Sahiyo community before the series is publicly released. It’s free to attend, however donations are encouraged to help us reach our $10K anniversary fundraising goal, and support our ongoing work.
This event reminds us that art is more than a medium, it’s a method. A method for advocacy, for healing, and for change. By centering just a few stories, we are echoing the many. And when we listen deeply, those echoes can carry farther than we ever imagined.
We hope you’ll join us.
? July 31st
⏰ 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
Let’s discuss, reflect, and most importantly… stay UNMUTED.
