I currently live in Hawaii, and was subjected to FGM/C as a young child in my country of birth in Asia. The cut was carried out without anesthesia or pain medication. Coming from a community that actively practices FGM/C, I also have numerous relatives and friends who were subjected to FGM/C without their consent or approval. I am still dealing with the long-term psychosocial effects of the procedure; regrettably, there are no resources available in Hawaii targeted specifically to help FGM/C survivors. I am urging the Hawaii State Legislature to enact legislation that will protect girls from the harms of FGM/C, and promote the creation of support services for survivors like myself. Hawaii remains one of only nine U.S. states without a law to protect children from FGM/C. Unfortunately, I am not comfortable using my real name for this petition because I am worried about the backlash from my family and community.

My name is Mariya -  I’m a survivor of FGM/C and cofounded Sahiyo, a survivor-led organization with the mission to empower communities impacted by FGM/C to take action and lead the change towards abandonment of this form of gender-based violence. We work tirelessly to support individuals like this anonymous survivor in Hawaii in their healing journeys and in their paths towards community change. We know that to end FGM/C, we must create a coalition of survivor and community voices who can support one another to drive that change.

FGM/C survivors in Hawaii are largely invisible and unheard of, even though their voices deserve to be recognized and amplified. FGM/C remains a critical issue to address due to its profound and lasting impact on survivors’ physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. In Hawaii, it is estimated that there are 304 individuals living with FGM/C and 1,041 individuals at risk from potentially FGM/C impacted communities. The challenge in Hawaii is one of awareness, as many people are unaware of the prevalence of FGM/C in local communities. 

A ban on FGM/C in Hawaii is time-critical! We do not want this state to be a destination for FGM/C or a launchpad state for vacation/travel cutting. Furthermore, survivors and at-risk women and girls in Hawaii need a bill that unequivocally reiterates that FGM/C is a form of gender-based violence. There are laws against domestic violence and sexual assault. We need a law against FGM/C to affirm that it is a form of gender-based violence. In addition to being a severe violation of human rights, FGM/C directly contradicts the core values of the Aloha Spirit, which underpins Hawaiian culture and is a profound philosophy rooted in respect, compassion, and love for all people, the land, and the community. The Aloha Spirit emphasizes the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of every individual, especially women and children, who are to be honored and protected. It embodies a deep reverence for wahine (women) and keiki (children) and holds that all individuals deserve respect, autonomy, and the freedom to flourish in a safe and nurturing environment. FGM/C, which inflicts permanent harm on girls and women, violates this fundamental principle by stripping them of their bodily integrity and human dignity. By protecting our most vulnerable from FGM/C, Hawaii can uphold the values of the Aloha Spirit and demonstrate a continued commitment to the equality of women and girls. Hawaii was recently ranked as the best state in the nation for women’s equality, thus, we must act now to ensure that it remains a beacon of justice, compassion, and respect for all.

We urgently need your support! Please help us by signing our petition demanding that legislators pass a bill to make Hawaii the 42nd state to ban FGM/C. Let’s work together to take a stance against FGM/C!