By Sheena Vasani and Mariya Taher

It’s hard to believe, but in monetary terms, all it could take to avert one case of FGM/C is $95 – roughly the cost many of us pay for a year or so of Netflix. Despite that fact, one of the reasons female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is on the rise worldwide is because of a lack of adequate funding. 

How is that possible?

That’s one of the many questions Sahiyo and other members of The Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C coalition explored on March 15th during a parallel event at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). Hosted by the Global Platform coalition in partnership with the United States Mission to the United Nations, the “From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap to End FGM/C” event sought to educate, mobilize, and inspire stakeholders from around the world with innovative ways to close the gap. 

Speakers included experts and influential change-makers from around the world, including:

• Wisal Ahmed, Global Coordinator of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Asenath Mwithigah,  the CEO of Orchid Project 
• Susan Gibbs/Sarah Roma, Director of the Women's Rights Program at Wallace Global Fund
• Stephanie Baric, Senior Gender-Based Violence Technical Advisor (FGM/C & CEFMU), USAID's Office of Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment  
• Sharon Armstrong, the Director-General of the Social Development Bureau at Global Affairs Canada

Jaha Dukureh, the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa on FGM and child marriage, was unable to attend as she was in The Gambia working to keep a law banning FGM alive. However, she still shared with us a short video message addressing funding needs and awareness about the situation in The Gambia. 

As a part of the event, Sahiyo and others presented some eye-opening – and at times, jaw-dropping – findings. 

For example, the world has seen a 15 percent increase in the total number of FGM/C survivors compared to data released in 2016, according to UNICEF data presented at the event. That equates to an additional 30 million people, meaning a total of 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM/C.

Because of this, FGM/C rates must decline globally 27 times faster if we hope to eliminate the practice by 2030. We also need $3.3 billion just to avert 24.6 million FGM/C cases in 31 priority countries by 2030, a UNFPA report reveals. Yet as only $275 million in development assistance will be spent between 2020-2030, that leaves a funding gap of over $2.1 billion. And that’s just for the 31 countries the report focused on – not the additional 60+ countries where FGC is also practiced.

It’s safe to say the situation is pretty dire.

And yet despite all those numbers, the event also gave us reasons to have hope. The event sought to bring together various stakeholders and government figures to help elevate conversation and commitment toward closing the funding gap.  To that end, we promoted the Kigali Declaration, specifically calling for a Global Commitment Summit to significantly increase funding for FGM/C prevention and response efforts worldwide – and especially shift funding directly toward frontline, grassroots activists.

UNICEF data reveals that half of the progress made in the last three decades happened in just the past 10 years alone. This rapid change reflects changing attitudes towards FGM/C – in other words, efforts by organizations like Sahiyo to change social norms are working.

But to get rid of FGM/C sooner rather than later, we also need increased funding – and now. Join us in calling on governments and donors worldwide to put their money where their mouth is – sign and share the Kigali Declaration with your network, and spread the word.

“Everything I learned from the workshop was gold to me. I enjoyed all the sessions and the new skills I acquired in creating a digital story (...) about a scar. A scar that my primary duty bearers believed was necessary to have in order to be labeled as the “purified” girl, for marriage, as opposed to being referred to as a “solimaa”, the uncut girl. A scar that will resemble a fresh wound for the rest of my life. 

Here I am today, after being silent for many years. I now am not afraid to talk in public about stopping FGM/C.I wish I didn’t have this scar. I wish you didn’t either. But we don’t have to be silent about it.”

~Amie Kujabi, Voices Storyteller

Amie is one of nine storytellers who participated in the latest cohort of the Voices to End FGM/C project. Each participant bravely created videos sharing their experiences with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), with the ultimate goal of ending this harmful practice. And starting on January 17th, Sahiyo will begin sharing these short videos along with reflection blogs from each storyteller.

A collaboration between Sahiyo, StoryCenter, and Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS), every year the Voices to End FGM/C project brings together survivors, activists, and others impacted by FGM/C from around the world. Together, these storytellers heal by connecting and sharing their stories, while growing as leaders. So far, we’ve held seven workshops in the past six years, supporting over 70 courageous souls from more than 19 countries to share their experiences.

Along with being therapeutic, these stories are tools we use to plant the seeds of greater social change. Through watching these videos, we’ve educated governments about the need for policies that protect future generations of girls from FGM/C. The videos also teach healthcare professionals and other service providers about the impact of this practice, so they can better help survivors.

“I just hope people that receive this message understand how wrong this is and if there's anyone who's in my shoes who's lost a friend this way or someone they loved, that way they can get up and advocate and they can start speaking against this practice. I hope when they receive this message, they realize the danger.”

~Gugu Makhari, Voices Storyteller

We’ll be updating the blog with the videos and reflection blogs from this year’s cohort when they’re available very soon. In the meantime, you can support storytellers from past cohorts by watching their videos on this playlist.

For further questions, contact Aries at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By: Jaha Dukureh, a Gambian anti-female genital mutilation campaigner and the founder and executive director of Safe Hands for Girls. Jaha was named TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People for 2016 and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.

After I spent years campaigning to outlaw female circumcision, finally my country started to listen. In 2015, The Gambia banned Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and imposed penalties on those who perform or practice it. As a survivor of FGM who played an instrumental role in this fight, I felt ecstatic when I heard the news.

But it was a joy that wasn’t to last.  If certain politicians have their way, the law will soon disappear and more young children will have to suffer the same pain I did. Some, like my half-sister, may lose their lives.

As a survivor of FGM born and raised in The Gambia, a Serahule, and a proud Muslim, my journey has been one of pain, resilience, and unwavering determination. I have learned that it is important to recognize my roots and the challenges that come from speaking up, especially if you are a woman and of my background. Today, as I reflect on the challenges that lie ahead, I am compelled to raise my voice in defense of the progress that has been made in protecting our daughters, our sisters, and future generations of women and girls.

I speak up for myself, for my generation, and for the millions of girls who will hear our story and say enough is enough. I will never perform this practice on my daughter. That statement, in itself, is the ultimate victory. And yet sadly, there are still many parents in The Gambia who are fighting for this practice to live on, ignoring our cries for it to end. 

Still, we refuse to be silenced and stand idly by as our daughters' bodies are mutilated, their futures stolen, and their dreams shattered. That's why, as the world celebrated women's achievements during Women’s History Month in March, we launched a petition to stop the repeal of the ban on FGM in The Gambia. 

But to be effective – to actually be heard – we need all of you to help tell our parents, “Enough is enough.”

Our campaign has given voices to many young girls who continue to unapologetically lead movements to help change social norms. But today, we also need to be honest with ourselves. As much as I am emotionally invested in the campaign, I have always recognized my limitations, especially when I decided to bring my campaign home. If you have the chance to watch Jaha’s Promise, you will understand what I am trying to explain. I was returning home to join a decades-long campaign to end this harmful practice, but it wasn’t easy. 

As young people, we developed a whole society approach to eradicating the practice. This required us to organize but also to engage with those who had different views than us. Those Gambians for whom FGM is considered a sacred passage that women have to go through. Those fathers, like mine, who gave consent to the practice without understanding what we go through.

Like in many parts of Africa, FGM remains a deeply entrenched tradition in The Gambia, affecting a significant portion of the population.  According to the United Nations Population Fund, 75 percent of women and girls aged 15-49 have undergone some form of FGM. This practice cuts across ethnic, religious, and cultural boundaries, affecting various communities nationwide. If lawmakers overturn the law now, the numbers will only increase.

The proposed repeal is not just a legal issue; it is a moral imperative, a test of our humanity, and a reflection of our values as a society. It sends a dangerous message that the rights and dignity of girls are expendable, that their bodies are mere vessels for the preservation of harmful traditions. 

But we know better. We know that FGM is a violation of human rights, a form of violence against women and girls, and a practice that should end with us. That's why we are mobilizing, organizing, and uniting to raise the alarm for the rights of all girls to live free from fear and harm. 

Our petition is more than just signatures on a page; it is a collective call to our parents to listen to the voice of reason and understand the harm that we go through. As a survivor, I know firsthand the pain and trauma inflicted by FGM. But I also know the power of resilience, the strength of solidarity, and the hope that springs from the darkest of places. 

Join me – join all of us survivors – as we raise our voices, protect our girls, and say no to the repeal of the ban on FGM in The Gambia.  Sign our petition, raise awareness, and stand in solidarity with survivors of FGM. Together, we can protect our girls and build a world where every woman and girl is empowered to live a life of dignity, freedom, and equality. We owe it to our daughters, our sisters, and ourselves to mobilize our communities and demand accountability from our leaders. 

Our parents aren't listening to us — our politicians aren't listening to us — which is why we need your voice, too. With your help, our collective voices will be so loud they’ll be impossible to ignore.

#StopFGMRepealGambia #ProtectOurGirls #EndFGM 

Jaha Dukureh, Founder & CEO of Safe Hands for Girls

Council member Nalafem Collective

The Gambia

Related links:

• Behind the Wall by Gambian activist and FGC survivor Isatou Jallow
• UNICEF released new data on global prevalence of FGM/C 

As we settle into 2024, the Sahiyo family is excited to welcome Sheena Vasani as our new Editorial Coordinator. Sheena, a strong believer in the power of the written world to enact social change and heal, has gone viral multiple times for her work on South Asian women’s rights and mental health issues. 

Rachel Wine, Sahiyo’s former Editorial Coordinator, will transition into the role of Research Coordinator. She is eager to lead the efforts in disseminating Sahiyo’s original research findings from the Critical Intersections project, and support partnerships with students and independent researchers.

Lastly, we say farewell to Programs Associate Meg Sinnott, who after nearly two years supporting the efforts of Sahiyo’s policy work and various programs, transitioned off of the team last month. We wish her luck in all future endeavors!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide, an educational resource developed by Sahiyo, Silence Speaks, and the Asian Women’s Shelter. This guide marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to amplify the voices of survivors, educate people, and mobilize communities to support ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

Supported by the Wallace Global Fund and the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, the guide is designed to help everybody facilitate impactful screenings of digital stories by survivors, activists, and advocates. These stories are not just narratives; they are powerful testimonies of resilience, courage, and the human spirit's ability to overcome.

Why This Guide Matters

FGM/C is a social norm justified by a variety of reasons, yet it carries significant implications for women's health, rights, and well-being. The Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide stands as a crucial step forward in our collective efforts to raise awareness, foster understanding, and drive change. The guide offers a wealth of tools and templates to assist in organizing screenings of Voices to End FGM/C videos, whether within organizations, schools, or informal gatherings. It aims to create a space for learning, reflection, and action, encouraging participants to move from awareness to advocacy. By hosting a screening, you contribute to a larger dialogue about human rights, gender equality, and the urgent need to end FGM/C.

What You'll Find Inside

The guide serves as a comprehensive toolkit for anyone committed to ending FGM/C, providing the following information: 

• Detailed screening guidelines 
• Discussion prompts
• Event planning tools
• Resources for organizing engaging and informative screenings
• A selection of digital stories from our Voices project

We encourage you to visit our Voices to End FGM/C website and browse through the diverse narratives from around the globe. 

Join the Movement

By exploring the Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide, you're taking a significant step towards raising awareness and creating opportunities for dialogue. We hope this guide becomes more than just a resource; we want this guide to serve as a call to action for everyone who believes in the power of storytelling to inspire change.

We invite you to join us in this vital movement. For any questions or to learn more about our Voices program, please reach out to us atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Related:

• Voices to End FGM/C 2023 Cohort Video Screening

On February 6th & 7th, the End FGM Canada Network will be hosting a conference, Taking Action on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Canada & Beyond. This conference aims to observe February 6th, The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, through two days of collective action.

Sahiyo U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher will be a panelist for the fourth session: Survivors Voices: A Panel Discussion on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Survivors on Feb 7th at 10 am EST. 

The Network invites participants to join in taking a deep dive into the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and develop the understanding and skills needed to support FGM/C survivors and contribute to Canada's anti-FGM/C movement.

Learn more about the conference here.

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.

This survey is part of a study to better understand the interests, motivations, and expectations of survivors of female genital cutting (FGC) in electing to undergo clitoral reconstructive surgery (CRS) in Canada. The aims of the research are the following:

• To develop a greater understanding of survivors’ interests, motivations, and/or expectations in electing to undergo clitoral reconstructive surgery
• To identify how well a survivor’s surgical outcomes meet their initial expectations
• To improve the referral process for survivors who wish to undergo clitoral reconstructive surgery
• To highlight the importance of quality care for survivors in Canada

This survey is open to survivors who have undergone clitoral reconstructive surgery (CRS), survivors who have not yet undergone the procedure but are interested in doing so, and survivors who have chosen not to undergo CRS. The survey is split into several sections: demographics, interest in CRS, and experience with CRS. The questions are  asked in multiple choice format, some ranking, and a few open-ended questions. The estimated time to complete the survey is about 10 minutes.

The survey will be  open until May 2024. All  responses will be strictly confidential. To learn more about this study, please contact the principal investigator, Kiah Leone, from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To take part in the survey, please click here or scan the QR code below.