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 Washington Coalition to End FGM/C Interview Series: Dr. Muna Osman
Recently, policy interns at Sahiyo have been interviewing members of the Washington Coalition to End FGM/C to learn more about coalition members’ important work toward policy creation on female genital cutting (FGC). Sahiyo’s policy intern, Sara Khattak, talked to coalition member Dr. Muna Osman, DNP FNP-BC, a prominent advocate in the work to end FGC […]
Reflections on Pain, Stigma, and Activism
By Tanya Samyak On December 6, 2023, Sahiyo organized a webinar titled Pain, Stigma and Sexual Health: Healing through Storytelling in collaboration with TightLipped, a grassroots organization supporting and advocating for individuals who experience chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain. Panelists shared their personal stories, which touched on topics survivors of female genital cutting (FGC) also […]
Finding freedom through sharing your story: how speaking up liberated activist Lomaris “Lo” Diaz
In December, Sahiyo U.S. and TightLipped explored the power of sharing one’s story during our “Pain, Stigma, and Sexual Health: Healing Through Storytelling webinar. After recently chatting with one of the panelists, Grace Culqui, I had the pleasure of interviewing another participant: Lomaris “Lo” Diaz. For years, Lomaris struggled with vulvovaginal issues which caused her […]
Finding safe people and protecting your peace is key, says activist Grace Culqui
By Sheena Vasani After Sahiyo U.S. and TightLipped hosted the webinar, “Pain, Stigma, and Sexual Health: Healing Through Storytelling” in December 2023, I spoke to Grace Culqui to learn more about her experiences as a webinar panelist and chronic pelvic pain survivor. During the webinar, Grace opened up for the first time in a public […]
The African Women’s Clinic: An Interview with Australia’s Only FGM/C Clinic
By: Kiah Leone While in Australia, I had the privilege of speaking with Marie Jones and Nigisti Mulholland from The African Women’s Clinic in Victoria, Australia to learn more about their clinic, the services they provide, and the current state of FGM/C-related care in the country. The African Women’s Clinic (AWC) is the only FGM/C-specific […]
Breaking the Cycle: A Journey in Women’s Health and FGM/C Awareness
By Aries Nuño In participating in Sahiyo’s Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling workshop, I chose to share a story that examined my journey toward understanding women’s health. This journey was not just a personal quest, but a response to a disquieting cultural reality: the pervasive silence among generations of women about their own bodies. […]
Insights from Sahiyo and TightLipped’s Collaborative Webinar
On December 6th, Sahiyo and Tight Lipped co-hosted an empowering webinar titled, “Pain, Stigma, and Sexual Health: Healing Through Storytelling.” The event shed light on the different aspects of healing through candid and intimate accounts from our speakers. Each speaker fearlessly shared their personal narratives, revealing the complexities of navigating chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain […]
Passion, Purpose, Party: My take on Sahiyo’s Activists Retreat
By Lubaina Plumber I remember being 21-years-old, a wide-eyed, aspiring human rights lawyer in Bombay (Mumbai for those who don’t properly identify with the ethos and pulse of the city that never sleeps) when I first stumbled upon, completely accidentally, the grave violation of female genital cutting (FGC). Suddenly, it all came rushing back to […]
Psychosexual Care for FGM/C Survivors: An Interview with Dr. Reham Awwad
By Kiah Leone In celebration of World Sexual Health Day on September 4th, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Awwad to learn about the types of care and support Restore offers survivors as they navigate their relationships with their bodies, their partners, and themselves. The results of this discussion will be shared […]