Sahiyo Executive Director Mariya Taher Speaks at UN Human Rights Council Panel on Digital Technologies and Ending FGM
On February 23rd, 2026, the Human Rights Council convened for a high-level panel discussion on the role of digital technologies in preventing and eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM). The panel brought together senior representatives from United Nations entities, member and observer states, and civil society to examine how digital innovation can help accelerate efforts to […]
Sahiyo at CSW70: Survivor-Led, Anti-Racist Advocacy in Action
This March, Sahiyo will participate in multiple events at the 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York City, bringing survivor-led perspectives to global conversations on FGM/C, gender-based violence, and bodily autonomy. View the event details below! Dismantling Racism in Anti-FGM/C Movements: Path to Decolonial, Survivor-Led Advocacy This […]
Sustainable Development Goals: How the UNs Benchmarks Align with Sahiyo’s Mission to End Female Gential Cutting
By Elaina Baliner Sahiyo’s Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelor 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. Recently Elaina […]
Aarefa Johari makes statement at Human Rights Council
On June 20th, Sahiyo co-founder Aarefa Johari submitted an online oral statement on Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in Asia at the United Nations’ 50th Human Rights Council. The statement was made on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and the Asia Network to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. The video statement […]
Sahiyo takes part in a variety of virtual NGO CSW 65 Forum events in March
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 65th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings took place virtually March 15-26, with thousands of individuals from civil society from across the globe taking part to collaborate and connect with each other on the pressing issues of our times and the progress we have made toward achieving […]
UNFPA launches 2020 State of the World Population Report
By Hunter Kessous On July 30th, the United Nations Fund for Populations Activities (UNFPA) hosted a virtual event to launch the 2020 State of the World Population Report. UNFPA is the sexual and reproductive health agency of the United Nations. This year’s report titled, Against My Will, focused on three of nineteen harmful practices girls […]
How COVID-19 may increase gender-based violence, including FGM/C
The UNFPA and UNICEF Joint Program on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) released a technical note about how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect women and girls adversely in regard to violence and inequalities. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to allow an additional two million cases of FGM/C due to restricted movement and […]
Looking Back: Sahiyo at CSW/MALA’s March 2019 Event
On March 18th 2019, the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) hosted a parallel event on “Addressing FGM in the USA: Safeguarding Survivors and Protecting Victims“ at the UN Commission on the Status of Women 63rd Session in New York. The panel took place at the UN Church Center. The panel convened survivors, policy makers, non-profit […]
Sahiyo’s petition to the United Nations needs your help
In December 2016, Sahiyo started a petition with Change.org to encourage the United Nations to invest in research on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Asian countries. The petition proposes to end FGM/C worldwide by 2030, and Sahiyo needs the support of 7,500 petition signers to accomplish our goal. The United Nations reports that at least 200 […]
Four American survivors of FGC speak out
Four American survivors of Female Genital Cutting have broken the culture of silence around the issue through a new video. These women, from diverse backgrounds, illustrate that FGC is not restricted to any one geography, religion, or socioeconomic class. The four women featured in the video produced by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International […]