Sahiyo in D.C.! Key Insights from Our In-Person Meeting with DOJ OVW Partners
Earlier this year, we were honored to join forces with the Milken Institute School of Public Health, the U.S. End FGM/C Network, and the Global Woman PEACE Foundation (GWPF) to address FGC across the United States. This initiative, funded by a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (DOJ-OVW), marks a significant step forward in our fight to end FGC. Throughout this project, our dedicated team will conduct listening sessions, offer comprehensive training and technical assistance (T&TA), and develop online resources to enhance the capacity of state agency partners and community service providers in supporting FGC survivors. This initiative represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to create a safer and more supportive environment for impacted individuals. On June 20, 2024, we hosted an impactful in-person meeting at George Washington University with our project partners. This gathering allowed us to review the project timeline in great depth and align on progress and upcoming milestones. A highlight of the meeting was reviewing the data we have collected thus far from the listening sessions, which provided invaluable insights into the knowledge, strengths, and needs of the grantees regarding FGC awareness and understanding. This data-driven approach initiated rich discussions and brainstorming sessions among the partners, emphasizing the importance of organizing our T&TA as a learning collaborative. We explored ideas for creating a toolkit of case studies and guided sessions by subject matter experts to facilitate peer learning. Our goal is to build a framework for ongoing support and capacity building in FGC prevention and response, recognizing that this is a journey we undertake together, pioneering new efforts and approaches in addressing FGC. We look forward to sharing some of our recent findings with federal agencies in a meeting later this month. Our goal is to inspire and advocate for additional federal funding and support for these efforts nationwide, recognizing that our strength lies in our collective commitment and collaboration.
My experience at the Global Woman Awards and Walk to End FGM
By Rachel Wine On September 30th, I had the honor of joining survivors, activists, and allies from around the world to participate in the 9th Annual Global Woman Awards the 10th Annual Walk to End FGM. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with my peers in the anti-FGM/C field in-person, and share in the collective energy that is fueling the work to end this harmful practice. The ceremony kicked off with a musical performance, a keynote speaker, and opening remarks by the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E Foundation’s founder, Angela Peabody. The award ceremony began with the category of legal and policy work in the anti-FGM/C field; this year’s awardee was our very own Mariya Taher! Though Mariya was unable to attend the event in-person, I was excited to celebrate the recognition of her hard work and share some remarks on her behalf. I was eager to tell the crowd about Sahiyo’s work as Coalition members in Massachusetts, Washington, and Connecticut, and the successes of passing legislation in the former two states. I explained that passing legislation is only half the battle, and the other half is holding legislators accountable for upholding the law. I also emphasized the importance of holistic approaches to ending FGM/C, such as educational initiatives and programs for survivors. After accepting the award on Mariya’s behalf, I was delighted to hear about the accomplishments of the other awardees, including an educator, doctors, survivors, students, and more. I felt hopeful for the future of this work seeing many young activists in the crowd. When the award ceremony ended, the group gathered to walk from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and back, united in chanting “No More FGM!” Many patrons of the National Mall stopped us to ask what FGM stood for; we shared pamphlets and information to educate them, and hopefully fueled their curiosity to learn more. As we sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial chanting, clapping, stomping, and cheering, I was reminded of the power of being a part of something bigger than myself. This event was something I won’t soon forget, and I’ll look forward to many future celebrations of our work to end FGM/C.
Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director, Mariya Taher, receives Global Woman Award
Sahiyo is excited to announce that our U.S. Executive Director, Mariya Taher, has received a Global Woman Award from the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, for her work in Policy Making and Legal accomplishments. The Global Woman Awards were created in 2015 as a way to recognize the achievements of women, men, and students who are involved in the movement to end FGM/C. Each Awardee is carefully vetted and Sahiyo is so proud that Mariya has received this well-deserved award for all her hard work. Learn more about the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation.