Unsilenced: A Conversation with Tasneem Perry on What it Means to Share Her Story As a Survivor of FGM/C
By: Megan Seaver Earlier this year, Sahiyo’s Co-Editorial Coordinator, Megan Seaver, sat down with long time Sahiyo partner and survivor Tasneem Perry to discuss the recent removal of an article in The Sun, featuring her story about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), following backlash from the Dawoodi Bohra community. Speaking out about FGM/C and sharing her […]
“Asking the Question”: Reconnecting with Australia’s African Women’s Clinic
By: Kiah Leone It has been nearly two-and-a-half years since I last sat down with Marie Jones to talk about her work with the African Women’s Clinic (AWC), and the care they provide to survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) living in Australia. At the time of our previous conversation, the AWC was Australia’s only […]
What Teens Can Do to Help End FGM/C
By Meher Jammi According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 4.4 million girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation or cutting this year (2025). FGM/C is a harmful practice that is rooted in gender inequality, shame, and silence. As teenagers, we often feel powerless when it comes to huge problems […]
The Courage to Speak: Severina reflects on the journey of sharing her FGM/C Story
By: Megan Seaver Severina Lemachokoti is an anti-FGM campaigner, a human rights defender and a gender rights activist from the Samburu community in Northern Kenya. She was interviewed by Sahiyo’s editorial coordinator, Sheena Vasani. In this interview, Severina reflects on her experience being a part of the first Voices to End FGC cohort and how […]
CALL TO ACTION: Expanding Survivor Protections in Washington State with SB 6017
By: Khushi Prakash The Washington Coalition to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) has partnered with Senator Tina Orwall to work on a SB 6017, legislation introduced to build on the existing FGM/C law. The bill is scheduled for hearing on Monday, January 26 at 10:30am PT before the Senate Law and Justice Committee. The primary […]
Know Your Rights: A Resource for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Survivors
By Hiromi Nishida At Sahiyo, we aim to address all facets of female genital cutting (FGC) at the global, national, state, and local levels; our mission is not only about ending FGC, but also about contributing to a broader culture of healing and healthy expression of female sexuality, autonomy, and strength. FGC, also known as […]
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 […]