Legislative Briefing on FGM/C in the State of Connecticut: A Collaboration between the Connecticut Coalition
On January 13th, the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C hosted a legislative briefing at the Legislative Building in Hartford, CT. The briefing was held in partnership with Sahiyo, Equality Now, and the U.S. Network to End FGM/C. The briefing provided an opportunity to learn more about the topic of FGM/C and the need to pass a law protecting children from it. Speakers included: Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz Mariya Taher Representative Jillian Gilchrest Siminesh Comollo The speakers discussed the importance of increased awareness of FGM/C as an issue local to the state of Connecticut, and the need for a specific state law against FGM/C. The briefing was intentionally held at the start of Connecticut’s next legislative session in order to introduce and pass a comprehensive bill protecting children from FGM/C and to create resources to support survivors. The Lieutenant Governor and Connecticut Representatives highlighted that pressure and advocacy by local, national, and international actors would help to make passing legislation possible. (Mariya Taher, Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director, and Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz)
Upcoming Training: Prevention Efforts for FGM/C Across the Country
Sahiyo U.S. invites you to join our upcoming training session: Prevention Efforts for FGM/C Across the Country on December 12, 2024 at 12-1:30 PM PT/ 3-4:30 PM ET. This training was developed in collaboration with our project partners the U.S. End FGM/C Network, Mother Africa, and the Washington Department of Health, as part of our efforts to prevent and respond to FGM/C in Washington State. In this session we will delve into prevention programming and efforts on FGM/C in the United States. Our aim is to equip organizations, service providers, advocates, and community leaders with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks to best engage in preventing FGM/C. Through this training we will uplift best practices and insights on prevention programming and provide individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to engage in effective and culturally sensitive prevention work. The training will also feature speakers from organizations that have successfully integrated prevention programming strategies into their work to stop FGM/C and save those who are at risk. By the end of the session, participants will: Be introduced to case studies of impactful prevention programs, showcasing key success factors and lessons learned Identify strategies for building cross-sector collaborations and partnerships Learn about best practices for engaging communities in prevention efforts Register here!
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.
A Conversation On Intersectionality: Sahiyo and The U.S. Network Launch Pilot Project
We are eager to uplift an ongoing collaboration between Sahiyo U.S. and the U.S. End FGM/C Network. Inspired by the U.S. Network’s upcoming release of its Survivor Listening Session Summary Report and Sahiyo U.S.’s ongoing Critical Intersections Research Project, the two entities have joined forces for a pilot project around intersectionality and FGC. In May, the U.S. Network and Sahiyo began sending out bi-weekly discussion questions to both organization’s respective listservs; these questions prompt activists and allies within the anti-FGC field to consider intersections between different social oppressions and FGC. Topics addressed by the questions include ties between FGC and religion, the conflation of gender-affirming care and FGC, racial stereotyping, and more. The goals of this initiative are as follows: To gather insight on various intersectional challenges from members of the Network. To share these responses with other stakeholders outside of the Network to facilitate dialogue on the topic of intersectional approaches to ending FGC. If you are interested in any of the topics listed above and want to be a part of these conversations, please email either Caitlin LeMay of the U.S. Network (caitlin@endfgmnetwork.org) or Rachel Wine of Sahiyo (rachel@sahiyo.org) for more information. To learn more about Sahiyo’s Critical Intersections project, click here.