Member Highlight — The Connecticut Coalition to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

Did you know that Connecticut is 1 of 10 remaining U.S. states without any state-level legislation to protect girls from FGM/C? See how this coalition working to change this.

Tell us about your organization.
The Connecticut Coalition to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a survivor-led, grassroots organization that formed in 2020. Our primary goal is building holistic solutions to support survivors and prevent future generations of girls in the State of Connecticut from experiencing FGM/C. We hold biweekly meetings for Coalition members, and have presented a number of informational forums on FGM/C for nonprofit and governmental agencies throughout Connecticut. Members of our Coalition are all volunteers, devoting their time, talents, and expertise to ending the practice of FGM/C in Connecticut.

How is your organization working to end female genital mutilation in the United States?
We are working to end FGM/C in Connecticut by advocating for comprehensive legislation that will help protect girls from FGM/C, provide survivors with support services, raise awareness of the harm FGM/C causes, and educate frontline professionals on how to provide culturally specific and sensitive care.

What are the challenges and opportunities in trying to end female genital mutilation?

Quite a few legislators and social service agency members that we have spoken with had never heard of FGM/C before we brought it to their attention. We have also encountered much misinformation and misunderstanding around what FGM/C actually is, why it is performed, and who practices it. The opportunity that these challenges has gifted us is that of bringing FGM/C out of the shadows through ongoing education.

How is the network helping you to achieve these goals and why is it important to be in the network?
Being affiliated with the Network means that we have the support of one of the best FGM/C focused organizations in the world. It also lends a legitimacy to our efforts that we did not have before.

We can end female genital mutilation in the United States because we realize that we must. It is our passion for ensuring that all girls might reach adulthood without bearing the scars of violence that drives us.

Watch The Connecticut Coalition to FGM/C latest event on their facebook page.