Pathways to Progress: Community Engagement in Ending Female Genital Cutting
Date: March 18, 2024 Time: 9AM-10:30AM Pacific/ 12PM-1:30PM Eastern Register here: https://bit.ly/RTIxSahiyo. On March 18, Sahiyo and other FGM/C advocates will discuss the pivotal role community engagement plays in raising awareness of FGM/C and ultimately ending the practice. Led by Sahiyo’s U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher, panelists will share effective ways to engage with FGM/C impacted communities. We invite everybody to attend the virtual panel discussion! Speakers will include: Wonder Guannu, who is the African Cultural Alliance of North America’s Project Coordinator for the FGM/C Project in Philadelphia Samman Masud, who is Sahiyo’s Community Engagement Coordinator Breanne Lash, who is the Director of Programs for Nile Sisters Development Initiative in Los Angeles and San Diego Who should attend this virtual event? Anybody who wants to increase engagement with individuals and communities impacted by FGM/C. What will the event be about? Panelists will share diverse case studies, illustrating real-world examples of community engagement in this field. These discussions will dive into the intricacies of building partnerships, mobilizing resources, influencing systems, and sustaining community and individual-level involvement to improve the wellbeing of those affected by FGM/C. Attendees will: Gain valuable insights into the challenges and successes of initiatives to address FGM/C Learn and be inspired by the power of community engagement in creating impact Gain knowledge about specific strategies Have the opportunity to discuss any workshop approaches that they have used in their communities Register for the event here: https://bit.ly/RTIxSahiyo. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. PS: Sahiyo’s Silent Auction fundraising event kicks off on March 6-10 while the Live Virtual Comedy Show will take place on March 7. We aim to raise $15,000 in support of our work. Click here to donate auction items, money, or sponsor the event.
From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap to End FGM/C
From political to personal, ending female genital mutilation (FGM/C) requires a multifaceted approach that includes funding. Sadly, a lack of adequate funding has created a real obstacle in our effects to enact change, which is why The Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C in partnership with the United States Mission to the United Nations is hosting “From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap to End FGM/C”, a parallel event at the 68 U.N. Commission on the Status of Women meetings this March. Date: Friday, March 15, 2024 Time: 4:30-6:00 PM ET Where: Church Center United Nations, 10th Floor, , New York, NY 10017 Register: https://bit.ly/FundFGMC Cost: Free This event will explore innovative options and call for solutions to close the funding gap. Event objectives include: Highlight the funding gap with an emphasis on the global nature of FGM/C and the funding needs globally. Share new findings on the landscape of FGM/C funding, identify strategic entry points. Bring in new stakeholders to commit to funding anti-FGM/C programming, promote dialogue between CSOs, activists and funders and mobilise multi-stakeholder partnerships. Secure support for a Global Commitment Summit to attract funding to the sector. Related: Reflecting on Investing in Girls and Women: Unleashing the Power of Philanthropy to End FGM/C PS: While we’re on the subject, Sahiyo’s Silent Auction fundraising event kicks off on March 6-10 while the Live Virtual Comedy Show takes place on March 7. We aim to raise $15,000 in support of our work. Click here to donate auction items, money, or sponsor the event.
Connecticut Hosts a Legislative Briefing on Jan 25th
On January 25, 2025, the Connecticut (CT) Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, Representative Jillian Gilchrest, CT General Assembly Bi-Partisan Women’s Caucus, and the CT Coalition to End FGM/C held an event, just prior to the next legislative session, entitled Preventing FGM/C in Connecticut – Why Comprehensive Laws Matter. Special guests and co-hosts included Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and the Governor’s Council on Women & Girls. The panel discussion that occurred during the event provided timely information and resources for legislators and their staff about FGM/C in the United States, as well as the need for comprehensive state laws to end the practice. Panelists shared their experiences and lessons they learned from legal reform processes in other states, which highlighted the important role of the law in changing social norms as well as protecting survivors, girls at risk, and society as a whole. The diverse panel of international, national, and local experts included women’s rights advocates, FGM/C service providers, and FGM/C survivors such as: Moderators: Rep. Jillian Gilcrest Steven Hernández Panelists Siminesh Comollo, CT Coalition to End FGM/C Caitlin LeMay, The US End FGM/C Network Zehra Patwa, Co-Founder and US Lead, WeSpeakOut Mariya Taher, Sahiyo: US Jill Thompson, Equality Now To date, 41 US States have enacted laws prohibiting the practice of FGM/C. Connecticut is one of nine states that has not yet addressed this harmful practice. This event was held in partnership with Sahiyo U.S.ahiyo U.S., Equality Now, and, the US End FGM/C Network.S End FGM/C Network. Watch a recording of the event here. In support of passing a law on FGM/C, this February 6th – International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, Governor Ned Lamont issued a Proclamation and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz issued a Citation to commemorate the day.
CelebrateHer: Comedy & Auction
Virtual Auction opens March 5th and closes March 9th, 2025. Join us for a fun evening of entertainment at our annual Comedy Show on March 5th, 5 p.m. PST/ 8 p.m. EST. 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities Available Donate to the Event Donate an Auction Item Purchase Comedy Show Tickets Live Virtual Comedy Show March 5th @ 5pm PST/ 8pm EST To kick-off our 5-day celebration of women’s voices, we’re hosting a virtual evening of comedy and entertainment in a live Comedy Show on Wednesday, March 5th at 5pm PST/ 8pm EST. Join us to support an important cause and an evening of entertainment, comedy, and more! Featured comedians include Pallavi Gunalan, Zahra Noorbakhsh, Sydney Battle, and Dani Lyle. Purchase Comedy Show Tickets For more information about the event, donating auction items, participating in the program, purchasing Comedy Show tickets, or sponsoring this event, please contact Sahiyo Development Director, Michelle Taylor at michelle@sahiyo.org. Donate an Auction Item We are looking for great items and packages to auction off at our virtual CelebrateHer: Comedy & Auction. Suggested items and packages that we are looking for include (but are not limited to) the following examples: Airfare or miles Gift cards to restaurants, hotels, shopping and retail stores Professional services (health & beauty, career or business development) VIP experiences (private tours, sporting events, food and wine experiences) Trip packages or unique adventures Click here to view some more ideas and suggestions. Auction Item Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025 Fill in the Donation Form! Become a Sponsor Become a Sponsor Customized sponsorship opportunities available! Please contact Michelle at michelle@sahiyo.org to learn more. Learn more about our Sponsorship Opportunities
Upcoming NGO CSW 66 Parallel Event: Engaging Men to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
The Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C is pleased to invite you to our NGO CSW Parallel Event on the topic of ‘Engaging Men to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting’. Event Details: Date: 14th March 2022 Time: 08:00 AM EST Registration: https://bit.ly/EngagingMentoEndFGM About the Event: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) affects over 200,000,000 women and girls globally. The Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C developed a call to action to advocate for greater prioritization, resourcing, and action to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Recognizing that FGM/C is a social and gendered norm, upheld through complex systems of patriarchy and tradition, the call to action includes acknowledging that we cannot bring about its end without engaging everyone, including boys and men. During this event, we will gather advocates and experts who have experience building male engagement programs to discuss ways of incorporating men in programming to end FGM/C. About the The Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C In June 2019 civil society organisations, champions, survivors and other grassroots representatives came together at the Women Deliver conference to develop a global Call to Action to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). The event was co-ordinated through a core group of globally representative organisations that managed logistics: Amref Health Africa, Coalition on Violence Against Women, End FGM Canada Network, End FGM European Network, Equality Now, Orchid Project, Sahiyo, The Girl Generation, The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices, The US End FGM/C Network, There Is No Limit Foundation and Tostan. The Call to Action was the result of several months of global consultation via an online survey. Version française // FRENCH Événement à venir le 14 mars avec l’ONG CSW: Mobiliser les hommes pour mettre fin aux mutilations génitales féminines La Plateforme Mondiale d’Action pour mettre fin aux MGF/E est ravie d’annoncer que nous organiserons un événement avec l’ONG CSW sur le sujet de ‘Mobiliser les hommes pour mettre fin aux mutilations génitales féminines / excision (MGF/E)’. Renseignements sur l’événement : Date : 14 mars 2022 Heure : 8h, heure de l’Est Inscription : https://bit.ly/EngagingMentoEndFG La pratique du MGF/E est une norme sociale profondément ancrée dans les sociétés et les communautés dans lesquelles elle se produit. Il s’agit d’une question sexospécifique, soutenue par des systèmes complexes de patriarcat et de tradition. La MGF/E touchant plus de 200 millions de femmes et de filles dans le monde, La Plateforme Mondiale d’Action pour mettre fin aux MGF/E plaide pour une plus grande hiérarchisation, ressources et action. Cette coalition d’organisations de la société civile, des champions, des survivants et d’autres organisations communautaires reconnaît que nous ne pouvons pas mettre fin à cette pratique sans impliquer tout le monde, y compris les garçons et les hommes. L’événement portera donc sur l’importance de l’engagement des hommes. Au cours de cet événement, nous réunirons des défenseurs et des experts qui ont de l’expérience dans l’élaboration de programmes d’engagement des hommes afin de discuter des différentes façons d’intégrer et faire participer les hommes dans les programmes visant à mettre fin aux MGF/E. Nous croyons que la conversation a le pouvoir de saisir l’expérience, de façonner l’opinion et de créer le changement. Nous vous invitons donc à nous rejoindre dans cette conversation.