Our Petition
(To sign petition, click here) End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting by 2030: Invest in Research, and Support in Asia According to the United Nations, at least 200 million women in 30 countries have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). However, these statistics are largely restricted to sub-Saharan Africa and ignore the global scope of the issue. In 2016, a UNICEF report finally included Indonesia as a country where FGM/C is practiced. The release of national data from Indonesia raised the total of girls who have undergone FGM/C from 130 million in 29 countries – as estimated in 2014 – to 200 million in 30 countries. Only 10 million of that increase was due to population growth worldwide. In Indonesia alone, half of girls under the age of 11 have gone through FGM/C. FGM/C has also been reported in India, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Brunei, Russia (Dagestan), Bangladesh, and Iran and amongst diaspora populations around the world migrating from these countries. Yet, Asian countries fall outside the scope of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to Accelerate the Abandonment of FGM/C. As a result, FGM/C survivors from this region are overlooked when it comes to resources, data collection efforts, and advocacy support. But how can we advance gender equality and stop all forms of gender violence if we are not inclusive of every country where FGM/C is reported? For Sahiyo, FGM/C isn’t a theoretical issue, it’s personal. We are an advocacy collective of South Asian survivors of FGM/C. With next to no resources and despite the backlash many of us have faced within our own communities, our advocacy work is starting to pay off. In the last year, we have place stories in mainstream publications – like the Guardian and Hindustan Times. In 2015, Sahiyo pursued a small-scale study to understand the extent of FGM/C amongst the Dawoodi Bohra Indian community and found that 80% of the women had been cut. As you can see from the video above, we are more than just overlooked data points, but survivors with agency who are reclaiming our own stories. In order to sustain the unprecedented momentum that we have built over the last year, we need the United Nations to take the issue of FGM/C in Asia more seriously. We need the international community to invest in rigorous data collection not only to better understand the scope of the problem but also to measure progress. Without reliable baselines, it is difficult to understand whether or not our interventions are working. We need to reframe FGM/C away from being a “faraway African problem” to recognizing that the problem is a reality for many communities. We know that FGM/C is rooted in controlling female sexuality and is a form of gender violence. It cuts across geography, socioeconomic class, religion, and education. We need the international community, in particular, the United Nations, to broaden the scope of its focus to be more inclusive. And we need foundations and donor countries to invest in survivor-centered approaches working on data collection, advocacy, and survivor support. Eliminating FGM/C by 2030 is a global target of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – it requires FGM/C prevalence to be measured in every country. To truly end FGM/C by 2030, we need all affected communities, including those in Asia, to be supported. We, a coalition of civil society organizations, now call on all relevant bodies to actively include India, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Brunei, Russia (Dagestan) and Bangladesh in all relevant FGM/C campaigns and reports and to commission research on the dynamics of the practice in Asia. More Videos of Women Sharing their Stories: A Pinch of Skin Female Genital Mutilation Survivor Tells Her Story Underground: American Who Underwent Female Genital Mutilation Comes Forward to Help Others Mariya: The Heart Petition Cosigners: Sahiyo Love Matters India Healthy Tomorrow Orchid Project Equality Now Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation RAHMA FORMA Tahirih Justice Center Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Point of View Pastoralist Child Foundation Krantikali Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA) The Hands of Hope Foundation Dahlia Project Akshara No FGM Australia Chehak Trust (Sahyog) The Council for Democracy and Tolerance Saheli Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan Blue Veins Men UNiTE (Men Against Violence And Abuse Alliance Beyond the Hijab Dawn Worldwide Speak out on FGM Keep the Drums, Lose the Knife Hawa Trust Sambhaavnaa Sanctuary for Families Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence National Federation GAMS Women Thrive Alliance (To sign the petition, visit the petition online at Change.org by clicking here)
Work for Us
Part-time Communication Assistant in the United States SAHIYO, an award-winning, transnational organization is dedicated to empowering Asian communities to end female genital cutting (FGC) and create positive social change through dialogue, education, and collaboration based on community involvement. By working towards an FGC-free world, we aim to recognize and emphasize the values of consent and a child’s/woman’s right over her own body. We aim to enable a culture in which female sexuality is not feared or suppressed but embraced as normal. For more read, about Sahiyo’s storytelling and our history. Position Description: We are looking for a Communications Assistant to provide administrative support on various programs and projects. Editing and writing Sahiyo materials will be an important part of your job. In this role, you should be an excellent communicator with strong attention to detail. If you also have administrative and social media marketing experience, we’d like to meet you. Sahiyo works transnationally, but this 22 hours per month position, ideal for students, will be for someone who can primarily support U.S. programming. As the position is virtual, the Communication Assistant can be located anywhere within the U.S. but must be comfortable with working independently and remotely. As Sahiyo continues to grow, we hope to grow this role for the right person. In the meantime, it is a great opportunity for you to work with the founders of an internationally recognized organization, and learn how organizations develop from the ground up. Responsibilities & Duties: Provide administrative support to programs and internal teams Draft and edit communications (e.g. program reports, grant reports, social media posts) Assist in maintaining web content and executing social media strategies Facilitate effective internal communications Support logistical coordination of Sahiyo programs and events as needed Requirements: Proven experience as a Communications Assistant or similar role Understanding of media relations and digital media strategies Proficient in Google Docs, MS Office; familiarity with design software (e.g. Canva, Photoshop, InDesign) and content management systems is a plus, Experience with Excel and data manipulation is a plus Solid editing and researching skills Excellent communication abilities (oral and written) Ability to multitask on different projects Strong attention to detail Organizational skills Desired Qualities: Experience working in the field of gender violence, FGM/C, or related field. Experience working with a variety of different cultures To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to Ms. Mariya Taher at mariya@sahiyo.com no later than Wednesday, August 1st, 2018. The email subject line should state “Application: Communications Assistant.” To view a pdf version of this job description, click here.
Part-time Admin Assistant Position Available in Mumbai
Administration position currently available in Mumbai, India. The individual should be able to commit to 30 hours per month for 7 months (August 1, 2017, until March 31, 2018) in this role. This position is a great opportunity for someone to learn how organizations/advocates engage in work to end Female Genital Cutting. By working towards an FGC-free world, the aim is to recognize and emphasize the values of consent and a child’s/woman’s right over her own body and to enable a culture in which female sexuality is not feared or suppressed but embraced as normal. If interested, please submit a cover letter and CV/resume to info@sahiyo.com. Please note that the candidate is expected to be able to work independently/remotely, and communicate regularly with Supervisors. The program assistant should: Be comfortable coordinating logistics for events, including the hiring of vendors, scouting event locations, assisting with writing MOUs/Contracts for Vendors, managing volunteers. Be able to write relevant and insightful content for reporting requirements, including collating feedback for events, writing events descriptions for social media, newsletter, and grant reporting. Be able to carry out basic financial management tasks, including reviewing the budget, managing bills, keeping track of expenses, submit and reconcile expenses reports. Be familiar with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, WordPress, Google+, and basic social media management. Be able to liaison with contractors, vendors, supervisors on a regular basis via email, phone, at the time of any on-site activity, and in-person regularly. Other related tasks as deemed necessarily Requirements Be able to travel locally for events and other logistical meetings/tasks Hardworking, driven, energetic, results-oriented, and independent Adhere to supervisor’s mission, vision, and values Desire to learn about FGC, with a focus on engaging with the community in a sensitive manner Proficiency in MS Office (MS Excel and MS PowerPoint, in particular) Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work Attention to detail and problem-solving skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task To view pdf of the Job Description, click Administrative Assistant Job Description.