Supporting Survivors in the LGBTQIA+ Community: How Sahiyo Helped Afiqa Attend the ASEAN Queer Leadership Week
In October 2024 I participated in the ASEAN Queer Leadership Week (AQLW), in Bangkok, Thailand, organized by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. I represented the End FGC Singapore campaign and was awarded the Sahiyo Advocacy Travel Scholarship in 2024, which supported my participation in the program. The leadership program was aimed at building the capacities of LGBTQIA+ activists in promoting the human rights of all, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) in broader society. We learned how to respond to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ movement within our spheres of influence. It was the ASEAN SOGIE Caucuses first cycle involving queer activists who work outside of LGBTQIA+ spaces. The program participants hailed from nine Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore. They were activists advocating on behalf of the rights of the disabled, labor rights, education for rural children, animal rights, climate justice and sustainability, journalism, and refugee and migrant rights. Of course, the issue of FGM/C falls under sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV), and children’s rights. I wanted to strengthen my advocacy work in the anti-FGM/C movements by connecting and building solidarity with regional activists. I wanted to spread the word about the impact of FGM/C, its pervasiveness in our region, and how it is connected to LGBTQIA+ issues. According to Sahiyo’s research on intersectionality titled “Examining Intersections Between Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Social Oppressions” (February 2024), barriers to ending FGM/C are impacted by social oppressions such as racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, hostilities against disabilities and neurodivergencies, and anti-LGBTQIA. With these threads of oppression interwoven, FGM/C survivors such as myself cannot separate them from our survivorship. At 18, I learned that my cut was a human rights violation at a feminist-led comprehensive sexuality education workshop. I asked my mother, who readily confirmed that under her instructions, my older sister had brought me to a Muslim woman doctor at a private clinic to have the prepuce (or the clitoral hood) of my genitals nicked. My cut is classified as type 1b FGM/C according to the World Health Organisation categories. My mother reasoned that cutting helps control the female libido (it doesn’t). This belief assumes that the vulva-owning baby will grow up to be a straight, cisgender woman, leaving little room for queer and trans acceptance. As a result, I created a digital story as part of the Voices to End FGM/C Digital Storytelling project in the spring of 2022. Voices to End FGM/C is a joint digital storytelling project initiated by Sahiyo and Silence Speaks. I collaborated with illustrator and former Sahiyo Programs Coordinator Catherine Cox, who helped me visualize some intimate parts of my story. Subsequently, I reflected on the ongoing process of creating and honoring one’s story. I joined the Singapore campaign due to the lack of trans and non-binary survivor voices in the global anti-FGM/C movements. Trans and non-binary survivors of FGM/C are excluded from the global survivorship data. For example, a female respondent is described as a woman without explicit agreement on their gender identity. This exclusion means that many trans and non-binary survivors are not aware that they were affected or do not have the space to share how FGM/C uniquely affects them. That is what the program participants and I have in common – that our lived experiences and perspectives as queer and trans people are often left to the margins and not centered within the causes that intimately affect us. We discussed the impact of being constantly exposed to hostilities and vicarious trauma due to our advocacy work. Starting with assessing our state of mental health, we drew up personal safety plans to communicate our needs to the people around us so that we don’t feel alone in our advocacy. Activism can be a tricky space to be in. As we talk about these issues, we may experience them concurrently. On top of that, queer folks face an added layer of vulnerability. Sharing personal stories may open up old wounds, which contends with wanting to stay professional and level-headed. How do we balance advocating for urgent issues while maintaining some semblance of sanity and protecting our well-being? We opened up about our vulnerabilities and the relentless hostilities, as well as holding on to hope. We allowed ourselves to reimagine multiple futures that left no one behind. To achieve the progress and success we Singaporeans enjoy today, we needed to leave some people behind – even at the expense of our people and neighbors. That perspective is reflected in how we treat most issues today, including FGM/C. The reason we advocate is that we want to be treated with dignity and believe that everyone deserves to be treated as such. It is an honor and a privilege to help my community in shifting our culture to one that chooses love over fear. I trust that in time we won’t leave anyone behind and that includes trans and non-binary children and survivors of FGM/C. About the Author: Afiqa (she/they) is a non-binary survivor of FGM/C from the Malay Muslim community in Singapore. They are a founding member of the End FGC Singapore campaign and a member of the Asia Network to End FGM/C. Recently, Afiqa joined the Non-Binary Southeast Asia collective. [youtube url=”https://youtu.be/nX2wIp0_OtY?feature=shared”]
Uniting to End FGM/C Across the Americas: A Joint Statement
This February 6th – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, in recognition of this year’s theme – “Stepping Up the Pace. Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM,” we are delighted to announce the formation of the Americas Alliance to End FGM/C. The Americas Alliance will serve as a coalition of organizations, governments, researchers, activists, and survivor advocacy groups, dedicated to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) across the Americas. Recognizing FGM/C as a severe violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence (GBV), the Alliance aims to unify efforts to support survivors, enhance prevention strategies, and promote gender equality throughout the region. FGM/C impacts communities worldwide, including across North and South America, though misconceptions lead to falsely believing the Americas are immune from this form of gender-based violence. The latest data shows us that there may be over 700,000 women and girls across the United States and Canada affected by or at risk of FGM/C. FGM/C also continues to be reported in Colombia, where a bill has recently been introduced to combat the harmful practice. There is also historical evidence of FGM/C being practiced in Mexico, Brazil and Peru which requires further investigation to determine current practice. From survivors living with its physical and psychological consequences to girls at risk, FGM/C transcends borders and cultures, demanding a unified, coordinated, and survivor-centered response. 1 Recognizing this need, we are proud to support the creation of the Americas Alliance —a collaborative network dedicated to addressing FGM/C through cross-border cooperation, shared knowledge and resources, and survivor-informed approaches. By bringing diverse voices and expertise together, the Americas Alliance aims to build capacity, amplify advocacy, and create lasting change. Participants: The founding organizations of the Americas Alliance include The U.S. End FGM/C Network, the End FGM Canada Network, George Washington University, Equality Now, and Sahiyo U.S. The Americas Alliance will also involve additional diverse groups of stakeholders dedicated to ending FGM/C and supporting survivors across the Americas. The partners whom the Alliance will collaborate and engage with will include: Service-providing organizationsExamples: Grassroots NGOs, community health organizations, and social service providers working directly with FGM/C survivors. Government representativesExamples: Government and intergovernmental development agencies and departments. ResearchersExamples: Academic institutions, public health researchers, gender studies scholars, and independent experts focused on FGM/C. ActivistsExamples: Survivor-led advocacy groups, grassroots organizers, human rights defenders, and gender justice advocates. And moreExamples: International organizations, private sector partners, legal advocates, faith-based organizations. Our Shared Commitment As participants of the Americas Alliance, we are dedicated to: Enhance data collection and knowledge sharing by establishing a robust framework for collecting and sharing data across countries, improving the accuracy of FGM/C prevalence estimates, and understanding its impact throughout the Americas. Develop trauma-informed, culturally sensitive support systems by facilitating the creation of transnational support networks that are responsive to the cultural and holistic health needs of survivors. Strengthen prevention strategies and policy frameworks by promoting the exchange of best practices and successful prevention models from diverse contexts within the Americas. Coordinate consistent, survivor-centered communications by ensuring that messaging and communications around FGM/C align across the region, maintaining accuracy, and respect for the lived experiences of survivors. If you wish to learn more about the Americas Alliance to End FGM/C, please contact us at americasalliance@endfgmnetwork.org. 1 Efforts are aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Global Partnerships).
Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Recognizes International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C
The Connecticut (CT) Coalition to End FGM/C, of which Sahiyo is a founding member, is so pleased to see that Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz has issued a citation to recognize February 6th as International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, a day to “take time to support women and girls” and end this harmful form of gender-based violence. In the citation, the Lieutenant Governor uplifts the ongoing efforts of the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C to protect women and girls from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). This recognition comes as the CT Coalition renews our push for passage of House Bill 6596 in the 2025 legislative session. The bill aims to establish educational programs, provide civil remedies for survivors, and criminalize FGM/C in the state. Connecticut remains one of only nine states without legal protections against this harmful practice. This citation serves as a meaningful acknowledgment of the work our coalition has done to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and support survivors in Connecticut. We are grateful for this public awareness and see it as a reminder of the importance of continuing the CT Coalition’s mission to ensure that every child in the state is protected from FGM/C. A special thank you to all the advocates, community members, and partners who stand with us in this effort. We invite you to join us by continuing to raise awareness and support legislation to protect women and girls by signing our Call to Action and urging your CT representatives to ban FGM/C. Stay tuned for more updates on House Bill 6596 and upcoming advocacy initiatives.
Sahiyo research uplifts how intersectionality impacts the movement to end FGM/C this February 6th
In recognition of Feb 6th, International Day of Zero Tolerance to End FGM/C, and this year’s theme “Stepping up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM,” our upcoming publication of Sahiyo’s third and final Critical Intersections Research Project report Examining Intersections Between Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Social Oppressions: A Qualitative Study could not be more timely. Our report’s findings reinforce the vital importance of recognizing intersectional identities and oppressions, as well as prioritizing the need to build cross-movement collaboration to strengthen the movement to end FGM/C. Overall, our research reveals through extensive data and testimonials that we are stronger when we work together, contrasting the harmful and discriminatory rhetoric coming from the Trump Administration. Expanding on the findings of our first two reports, this body of work includes insights derived from in-depth interviews conducted with 29 key experts across various social justice fields. The interviews were conducted across multiple geographic regions virtually via Zoom from November 2022 to February 2023. Two clear themes emerged: Intersectionality and Cross Collaboration. The report addresses the following topics within these two themes: Intersections between FGM/C and Race, LGBTQIA+, Religion, and Gender. Challenges and Opportunities to Cross Collaboration. From these findings, four recommendations were derived to address FGM/C: Coordinate with social service sectors across various social justice issues to improve support and resources for survivors. Improve language and framing of FGM/C to limit racialization and/or exclusion of marginalized communities in terms of who is impacted by FGM/C. Increase education on how FGM/C is intersectional within anti-FGM/C organizations, as well as across different movements/sectors. Implement more diverse and equitable approaches to data collection, analysis and dissemination that include input from a diverse array of stakeholders. Don’t miss our webinar, Intersectional Approaches Strengthen Alliances and Build Movements to End FGM/C, to learn more about the three-year project. Date/Time: February 27 @ 10-11:30 AM ET Registration link: https://bit.ly/FGMCAlliances Description: This webinar, which is both a culmination of the Critical Intersections Research Project and a charted path forward, will loop in key players from throughout the project to share their experiences and explore key findings that emphasize how intersectional approaches in ending FGM/C, including building alliances and partnerships with other social justice movements, strengthens our overall work to end FGM/C. Speakers: Aarefa Johari is a journalist and feminist activist based in Mumbai, India. She has been advocating for an end to Female Genital Cutting since 2012 and is a co-founder of Sahiyo, an organisation working to end FGC. Saza Faradilla (she/they) is a co-founder of End Female Genital Cutting Singapore, which envisions a world where the practice of FGC is obsolete. She raises awareness on social media and on-the-ground, and participates in local and international lobbying at the United Nations to bring attention to the fact that FGC is a pressing concern in Asia. Equally important, she calls for a culturally-contextual and intersectional feminist approach when dealing with sexual and gender based violence across diverse Asian communities. Jessica Puri is an Adjunct Professor of Public Health and founder of The Parable Lab. Nicknamed a Creative Academic, she enjoys the pursuit of knowledge and rest through creative expression and storytelling. Naquia Unwala is currently a medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She is also a Research Associate at Cornell University where she studies homelessness, public health disasters, and urban politics. Naquia is a volunteer at Sahiyo, and has helped with leading qualitative analysis of the Critical Intersections Research Project. Critical Intersections: Since 2021, through our survivor and advocate-led Critical Intersections Research Project, Sahiyo has sought to understand how systems of oppression have delayed progress toward ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), as well as explored the potential to build collaboration with other social justice movements to increase advocacy work on ending FGM/C. Inspired by a webinar in 2021 that sought to specifically examine the impact of systemic racism on the movement, this three-stage mixed-methods project has expanded that initial scope to understand the interplay between FGM/C and other oppressive forces such as Islamaphobia, xenophobia, transphobia, gender discrimination, and more. A special thank you to the Wallace Global Fund for funding this project!