Reflecting on the New England Sex Education Conference
By: Olivia Harris On May 27th, 2026, the HOPE MA team presented a workshop titled “Introduction to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) for Health Educators” at the New England Sex Education Conference (NESEC), a regional gathering bringing together health educators, school-based practitioners, and community-based advocates from across the region. The 60-minute workshop drew a diverse audience […]
What’s Next for the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C?
By: Khushi Prakash On May 7th, 2026, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 259 into law, marking a historic milestone in the state’s efforts to address female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). With this law, Connecticut became the 42nd state in the nation to enact legislation protecting women and girls from FGM/C. The passage of SB 259 […]
Reflections on the Oxford International Colloquium Toward Ending FGM: Mainstreaming FGM/C Within the GBV/VAWG Sector
By: Catherine Cox The last time I was in Oxford was in December, and the fog hung so low across the city that you could barely see two feet in front of you. I was back now, in July this time, and finally able to really see the beauty of the city during one of […]
Washington State SANE Training: Best Practices for Working with Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
On June 18th, Sahiyo and the U.S. Network to End FGM/C facilitated a 90-minute training designed specifically for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) in Washington State, focusing on building knowledge and information around female genital mutilation/cutting, (FGM/C), in Washington State, and supporting best practices for working with survivors of FGM/C. For SANEs in Washington State, […]
Sahiyo’s Activists Retreat Returns This October
Sahiyo will host its 12th annual Activists Retreat virtually from October 16-18, 2026. This year, the retreat will not only be open to survivors and activists from FGM/C-impacted communities, but will also welcome advocates from community-based organizations interested in learning more about FGM/C as part of Sahiyo’s pilot initiative to broaden participation and engage advocates […]
Applications now open: 2026 digital storytelling workshop!
Sahiyo, Silence Speaks, HOPE MA, and Saheli would like to announce a special workshop for immigrant and refugee survivors of gender-based violence and their allies. This workshop will bring together individuals from diverse immigrant and refugee communities to share stories of resilience, healing, and collective strength. Through storytelling, participants will have the opportunity to reflect […]
Reflecting on the Role of Men in Ending FGC This Father’s Day
Many survivors grow up believing that conversations about female genital cutting (FGC) belong only between women. Yet fathers, brothers, partners, and other men are also part of the communities where FGC persists, and a part of the communities working to end it. Through Sahiyo’s male engagement program, Bhaiyo, we have shared stories that explore the […]
Survival Is a Group Project
By Lubaina Plumber The Massachusetts Women of Color Network held its 9th Annual Conference on May 14 and 15 at Springfield College. I attended as a panelist on behalf of Sahiyo. The theme this year, Survival Is a Group Project, drew its framing from the tradition of mutual aid and collective care, and the program […]
Women Deliver 2026: A call for change
By Huda Syyed, PhD Welcome to Women Deliver 2026 Working across both academia and advocacy spaces with years of experience researching gender, violence, culture and bodily autonomy, I came to Women Deliver 2026 (WD2026) to learn, to unlearn, and to advocate. Powerful moments happened at the conference, but what stayed with me the most were […]
Conference on Gender, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, and Harmful Conflations
Deep in the Adirondacks, a powerhouse group of 14 survivors, advocates, policy experts, and LGBTQIA+ allies gathered with a singular, urgent purpose: to build cross-movement solidarity. From May 13th to 17th, we confronted the dangerous and escalating conflation of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) with gender-affirming care (GAC) in public discourse and legislation—a trend that threatens […]