Welcome to the July edition of our partner spotlight blog!
Welcome to another edition of our partner spotlight blog! If you haven’t read our first post, please check it out! In our Spotlight Series, we are highlighting organizations across Canada who are involved in menstrual equity or gender justice work in various capacities. This is an opportunity to shed light on the incredible work being done and to increase your capacity to engage in more advocacy work. This month, we’re highlighting the End FGM Canada Network.
The End FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Canada Network emerged from the powerful connections forged through the award-winning documentary ‘In The Name of Your Daughter,’ a film that sheds light on the harrowing stories of young Tanzanian girls fleeing female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Four women from different generations and backgrounds—Farzana Doctor, an author, psychologist, and FGM survivor; Klara Hillman, a policy analyst; Giselle Portenier, a journalist and filmmaker; and Malaki’s Somji, a high school student—came together in a Vancouver coffee shop on a winter’s day in 2019, united by their frustration over the lack of support for FGM/C survivors in Canada and the absence of protective protocols for at-risk girls. This meeting sparked the inception of the End FGM Canada Network.
Initially a volunteer-driven organization, the Network expanded its reach and impact in 2020 with a grant from The Wallace Global Fund, allowing them to hire a full-time national coordinator. Early efforts included social media campaigns, civic engagement, and government advocacy through film screenings, webinars, and outreach events. These efforts led to significant milestones such as the proclamation of February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in various Canadian cities and provinces, and the first official statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemning FGM/C. With further support from WAGE (the Canadian Department for Women and Gender Equality) and other funders, the Network has grown into the leading force in Canada’s fight against FGM/C, both domestically and internationally.
The End FGM Canada Network’s core values revolve around upholding human rights and dismantling systems of oppression targeting women and girls. The Network considers FGM/C a severe form of gender-based violence and a violation of fundamental rights. Aligned with the United Nations' policy of zero tolerance for FGM, the Network views FGM/C as a human rights violation. They work with survivors to create supportive systems through targeted, trauma-informed education for service providers.
A crucial value for the Network is being survivor-led. FGM/C survivors are central to decision-making processes within the organization, ensuring that programming and recommendations are driven by their experiences and expertise. Individuals with lived experiences and from impacted communities participate at all organizational levels, including volunteers, staff, and board members.
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The Joining Hands Project is the Network’s flagship initiative, focused on creating support systems for girls in Canada at risk of FGM/C and survivors. Collaborating with survivors and experts in medicine, mental health, education, social work, and law enforcement, this project offers distinct, trauma-informed, online, interactive training modules for professionals working within FGM/C-impacted communities across Canada. These modules, available in both French and English, train professionals to identify and protect at-risk girls and provide culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care to survivors. Over 700 individuals have been trained through these modules, featuring first-person animated narratives created with survivors.
In 2022, the Network introduced Miss Klitty, a global goodwill ambassador and FGM/C education prevention tool. This playful cartoon character, based on the clitoris, aims to normalize discussions about female anatomy and eliminate associated shame and stigma. Developed with a global youth advisory committee from affected communities, Miss Klitty helps spark conversations, demystify the clitoris, and promote positive attitudes towards this misunderstood sexual organ.
Success for the End FGM Canada Network is measured incrementally. Each person educated about FGM/C increases the chances of preventing this human rights abuse. Every trained professional becomes capable of preventing further harm to those impacted by FGM/C. The anti-FGM/C movement in Canada grows one person at a time, with success being the ability to have open conversations about gender-based violence and FGM/C.
In line with their commitment to being survivor-led, the Network established the first Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Survivor Advisory Council last year. This council brings together FGM/C survivors, providing a safe, non-judgmental environment for sharing experiences and reflections. Coordinated and facilitated by FGM/C survivors, this council has had positive impacts, creating a space for survivors to voice their autonomy, share their truths, and begin their healing journeys.
Maryam Sheikh, a longtime activist and former board member, exemplifies the bravery and dedication of the Network’s survivor advocates. Immigrating to Canada to protect her daughter from FGM/C, Maryam has been instrumental in establishing the anti-FGM/C movement in Canada, creating a space for survivors to come forward and break down barriers.
There are many ways to support the Canadian anti-FGM/C movement:
