The forgotten history of female genital cutting in the United States
By: Sara Khattak Female genital cutting (FGC) is a practice involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons. While FGC is a form of gender-based violence that is often mistakenly understood to only occur in certain cultural traditions in Africa and the Middle East, […]
How can you, as an ordinary person, help end female genital cutting?
By: Sara Khattak We hear a lot of sayings about creating change. “You can make a difference” is a common phrase used to inspire people to become more engaged in the world around them. But that phrase isn’t always helpful. How do people actually make a difference? Most Americans rely on their elected officials to […]
Interview with Zehra Patwa of the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C
Recently, policy interns at Sahiyo have been interviewing members of the Connecticut (CT) Coalition to End FGM/C to learn more about its members and all the important work they contribute toward ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). For the first two blogs, we interviewed Caitlin LeMay and Joanne Golden. In our third blog, Sahiyo’s policy intern, Juliet Shires, spoke to Zehra […]
Reflecting on the “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in California – Past, Present, and Future” Webinar
On October 11, Sahiyo in partnership with Equality Now, The U.S. End FGM/C Network, and the Greater Los Angeles FGM Taskforce held a joint webinar titled, “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in California – Past, Present, and Future.” The event was moderated by Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director, Mariya Taher and Shivagi Misra of Equality Now. The event […]
Walking Together: My Experience at the Annual Walk to End Female Genital Mutilation in D.C.
By Samman Masud This year, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Annual Walk to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), held in Washington, D.C. on September 28th, 2024. The sense of community prior to the walk was palpable when I arrived at the amphitheater nestled across from the Washington Monument. I got a […]
Reflecting on the NAPIESV ARP SA Grantees Gathering in Honolulu, Hawaii
In September 2024, Sahiyo U.S. had the privilege of attending an event in Honolulu, Hawaii, hosted by the National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV) for grantees who had received funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to create culturally specific programming to address sexual assault in AAPINH (Asian American, Pacific […]
Sahiyo U.S Executive Director Mariya Taher receives the 2024 Champion of Change Award
On October 5th, 2024, Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher received the 2024 Champion of Change Award, during the annual Asian Women’s Shelter’s (AWS) gala, “Hope and Action: Celebrating 36 Years of The Asian Women’s Shelter” in San Francisco. This award is given to individuals working to end gender-based violence in their communities and in […]
Join Us for an Inspiring Webinar: Youth Advocates Against Female Genital Cutting – A Conversation on Change
We are excited to announce an upcoming webinar that promises to be both enlightening and empowering: Youth Advocates Against Female Genital Cutting – A Conversation on Change. You, too, can join us for this important discussion. Date: November 4, 2024 Time: 12:30 pm ET / 9:30 pm PT Registration Link: https://bit.ly/FGCYouthAdvocacy Why This Webinar Matters […]
Intern Spotlight: Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner
Sahiyo’s Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a minor in Biology. A passionate global health equity advocate, Elaina actively seeks to maximize positive impact and close health equity gaps. Currently living in France […]
Sahiyo U.S. Joins Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds in 15.8M Initiative to address systemic barriers to health
A Collaborative Effort to Address Female Genital Cutting and Advance Racial and Health Equity [Cambridge, MA, September 23, 2024] The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has announced the 2024 awards of the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds (the Funds). As part of these awards, DPH, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), […]