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Keogh Therapeutic Massage | Jo Pritchard Keogh, BCTMB, LMT, TTT

Ending Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) in Connecticut

***TRIGGER WARNING FOR PHYSICAL VIOLENCE***

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a practice that primarily targets girls between infancy and fifteen years of age. It has absolutely no therapeutic benefits, and can lead to a host of physical and psychological problems, including hemorrhage, infections, shock, urinary problems, menstrual problems, childbirth complications, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and death.

There are currently over 2,600 girls and women at risk for FGM/C in Connecticut, 1,128 of whom are under the age of 18. Connecticut is also one of only ten states in which FGM is currently legal, which puts us at risk of becoming a destination state for "vacation cutting" (Yes, that’s actually a thing.)

In 2020, I co-founded the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C. We are a survivor-led coalition working to ensure that the State of Connecticut joins with 40 other states – including its neighboring states of New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts – to end female genital mutilation and cutting.

I’m committed to continue working toward ending FGM/C in Connecticut in 2023. All of Connecticut’s women and girls deserve to be protected from this abusive and harmful practice. If you’d like to be involved with this initiative, please contact me!

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