By Katie Bai
On Tuesday, February 18th, Sahiyo (a founding member organization of the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C) had the privilege of speaking to students at a Connecticut high school government class at the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering in Stamford, Connecticut (CT). Our presentation focused on the impact of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) on Connecticut communities, the urgent need for state laws, and ways students can actively engage in advocacy.
We began our talk by introducing the history of FGM/C in the United States and then discussed the prevalence of the harmful practice in Connecticut. From there, we shared a survivor’s story from Sahiyo’s Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling project, discussed the 2025 Bill that seeks to protect children from FGM/C, and concluded with ways in which students could get involved in addressing this issue. From the moment we began, it was clear that these students were deeply engaged and interested in what they could do to get a law passed in the state. The students demonstrated a strong grasp of both the policy landscape and the human rights implications of FGM/C. Their curiosity and critical thinking skills were evident as they asked about the legal gap between the federal ban on FGM/C and the state law, understanding that state laws must be comprehensive in protection for survivors and offer opportunities for education and outreach for communities. The students were also able to see the important role that cultural sensitivity plays in advocacy efforts, and they asked additional questions like:
“Is there any correlation on the state level between FGM/C and abortion laws?”
“Are Latin American countries experiencing FGM/C or is there simply a lack of data?”
“Why did the CT bill to ban FGM/C die in 2018?”
Seeing these young minds so eager to be part of the solution reaffirmed the importance of these conversations and the power of education in mobilization.
One of the key takeaways from our discussion with the students was that FGM/C is not just an issue happening “somewhere else.” It is a concern within the state of Connecticut, impacting real people in ways that often go unnoticed. We amplified the importance of closing legal loopholes and ensuring that survivors and at-risk individuals of FGM/C have the protections and support they need at the state level. We hope any legislation in Connecticut will address these components.
As presentation facilitators from Sahiyo, we left the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering feeling hopeful and energized by the students. If the students in this class are any indication of the next generation of leaders, the future looks incredibly promising – but only if we all take action to protect it.
A huge thank you to the students and their teacher, Claude Morest, for welcoming our team to speak and for their commitment to learning about and addressing this critical human rights issue. Let’s keep the conversation going and work together toward a future free from FGM/C!
Join us in safeguarding girls from FGM/C in Connecticut! Connecticut residents, sign our Call to Action.