Sahiyo in London: Confronting Racial Hierarchies Within the Global Movement to End FGM/C
From December 10-12, 2025, Sahiyo, in partnership with Dr Leyla Siirad Hussein Gikand, embarked on a critical initiative to confront and dismantle anti-Blackness and racial hierarchies within the global movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the city of London. Sahiyo’s recent research, stemming from the Critical Intersections research project, highlighted significant challenges, including […]
Intern Spotlight: Abigail Moisan
By Abigail Moisan Every month, Sahiyo likes to highlight the incredible work of our staff members, fellows, and interns. Today, we’re spotlighting Sahiyo’s current Editorial Intern, Abigail Moisan. Abigail is a graduate from Colby-Sawyer College where she majored in Creative and Professional Writing and minored in Nutrition. She believes personal stories are the foundation for […]
Strengthening Maryland’s Law Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: The SAFE Act and the Path Forward
By Nareen Pogozelski On November 1, 2025, the DMV Coalition to End FGM/C — a regional coalition of organizations working to end gender-based violence in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, of which Sahiyo is a member — had the privilege of presenting our bill proposal at the 30th Annual Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) […]
Dear Maasi: How Do I Regain Pleasure After Going Through FGM?
Dear Maasi, is a column about everything you wanted to know about sex and relationships but were afraid to ask! It’s a partnership between Sahiyo and WeSpeakOut, and is for all of us who have questions about khatna (female genital mutilation/cutting or FGM/C) and how it impacts our bodies, minds, sexualities and relationships. We welcome […]
Who Can Help? A Guide to Finding the Right Medical Care for Survivors of Female Genital Cutting
By Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy and Dr. Stacia Crochet While research indicates that there are over 500,000 women and girls in the United States who may have experienced or be at risk for female genital cutting (FGC), the reality is that many physicians, nurses, and other health care workers in the US may not know much […]
The Leaking House
By: Inisa Jaliwala I was told the house I grew up in was a hundred years old. I’d repeat this to my friends at school proudly, relishing the mystique of living in a century-old home. I later learned this was a hyperbole – a story told to describe the decrepit state of our building. The […]
Healing, Resistance, and Care: What Ethiopia’s Movement Against Female Genital Cutting Taught Me:
By: Dr. Zinia Afrin Doza (MBBS, MPH) I first heard about female genital cutting (FGC) when I started volunteering with the NGO called the Inter-African Committee (IAC), which worked to eliminate harmful practices, specifically child marriage & FGC. As a medical doctor and public health professional from Bangladesh, I thought I understood most of the […]
Sahiyo, Asian Women’s Shelter, and Silence Speaks Publishes Case Study on Supporting FGM/C Survivors Through Storytelling and Collaboration
Sahiyo is proud to share a new case study, Using Storytelling to Build Capacity for Cultural and Community-Based Organizations to Support Survivors of FGM/C, produced in collaboration with the Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS) and Silence Speaks. This case study reviews a three-year collaboration focused on using culturally grounded, trauma-informed methods to support female genital mutilation/cutting […]
From the Beginning: Susan Gibbs’ 10-Year Partnership with Sahiyo
This month, December 2025, Sahiyo celebrates its 10th anniversary! Over the past five months, we’ve been highlighting each of our programs, reflecting on our accomplishments, and showcasing the incredible people who have helped to make our work possible. Today, we’d like to highlight a person who has been instrumental in helping Sahiyo achieve its goals […]
Founders Interview Series: Insia Dariwala Reflects on Sahiyo’s 10 Year Anniversary
About the Founder: Insia Dariwala is an award-winning international filmmaker/child rights activist, TEDx speaker, an Author, a Therapist, and a Creative Campaign Strategist who effectively uses her creative expertise to highlight various social evils, including, child sexual abuse (CSA), and female genital cutting (FGC) through the medium of visual arts and cinema. I was writing […]