Join us on Tuesday, April 23rd for a groundbreaking event hosted by the Washington Department of Health, Mother Africa, Sahiyo U.S., and the U.S. End FGM/C Network. Learn more about how Washington State plans to address the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting following the passage of State Senate Bill 5453– An Act Relative to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in April 2023. 

Though FGM/C often remains a hidden practice, it is a human rights violation that is a reality for many women and girls across different communities in Washington State. Silence is an inherent part of this type of gender-based violence (GBV) that can lead to lifelong physical and emotional health consequences. At the core of providing better prevention, protection, health, and social support services for those impacted by FGM/C is a need for stronger data, enhanced research, education and outreach, and community engagement. 

We aim for this meeting to be an informative community discussion about FGM/C in Washington State and how your participation can help strategize building a multi-sectorial, holistic pathway toward addressing FGM/C. We are committed to ensuring we build and promote culturally respectful and responsive programming and invite a wide network of stakeholders in healthcare, government, nonprofit, and community-based organizations, and community members impacted by FGM/C, including survivors.