Sini Sanuman / Healthy Tomorrow

Sini Sanuman works in Mali to stop female genital mutilation (FGM).

SIni Sanuman
Our president, Siaka Traoré, is the third from the right in the green and yellow shirt.

We advocate against FGM in various ways: through in-person meetings and individual discussions, and through the media with broadcasts of songs and music videos, radio shows, films and billboards against FGM. We also collect signatures to work toward outlawing FGM and other violence against women.

Three videos at right explain our work. The first is a 3-minute summary, the next is an October 2020 panel discussion that includes the director of the film In the Name of Your Daughter, which we've shown on Malian TV. Third says what we do in one minute.

Songs and music videos that we have produced to spread our message have been played widely in Mali and nine other countries in West Africa.

Our Pledge Against Excision, a promise never to have a girl excised, now has well over 80,000 signatures. 95% of those signing say that Mali should outlaw the practice. With our partner groups, we are working toward such a law. Since 2017, we have been collecting signatures on the Pledge Against Gender-Based Violence, since the government has decided that they will pursue a more general law, against FGM, forced marriage and other forms of violence against women. This new Pledge has over 3,000 signatures, as of 2023, with a similar percentage in favor of a law.

Siaka Traoré, President of Sini Sanuman, presenting over 68,000 signatures on the Pledge Against Excision to the Parliamentary Commission on Violence Against Women at the National Assembly, May 2015.

Twenty one villages have collectively abandoned the practice of excision with our encouragement, and most have celebrated their decisions with public ceremonies that we helped them organize.

On April 29, 2024, the villages of Diakoni, Djinidié, Chobougou and Sirakoro Dounfing gathered to mark their decision to stop excising in their villages. They signed a Declaration which includes a fine of $130 for anyone who goes against the decision (see photos and video at right).

One hundred fifty one former excisers have agreed to give up the practice and many of them are helping spread the word.

We put up posters and billboards to raise awareness in the campaign. Our most recent one shows a mother and daughter and the message "I love my daughter, so I'm protecting her from FGM" in French,

Susan McLucas and the work of Sini Sanuman (5 minutes)

Presentation to African Diaspora Engaging Africa, April 2024, about Susan's work in Mali (45 minutes)

Summary (3 minutes)

Panel discussion

One-minute video summary of Sini Sanuman's work.

On April 29, 2024, four villages celebrated their decision to stop excising: Diakoni, Chobougou, Djinidijé and Sirakoro Dounfing.

The mayor of Kati, Giri Diarra, and Kaniba Baguiya with Siaka Traoré of Sini Sanuman at the ceremony.

The crowd of around 400 at the ceremony.

Dancing marking the four villages' decisions to stop FGM.

Susan McLucas, Director of Healthy Tomorrow, singing "Deni To A Cogola" (Leave Her Alone) by Rick Goldin in Bambara.

Healthy Tomorrow is a non-profit group based around Boston, Massachusetts, that supports the work of Sini Sanuman.

13th ANNUAL CHARITY RUG & VINTAGE SALES

St James’s Episcopal Church
1991 Mass Ave, Cambridge (corner Beech St)

Sat. & Sun., Dec. 7 & 8, 2024, 10am-4pm

Unity Church Somerville
6 William St, Somerville (corner College Ave)
Sat. & Sun., Dec. 14 & 15, 2024, 10am-4pm

2024 Rug Sale poster

(click to enlarge)

In April 2022, we hosted an online screening of "In the Name of Your Daughter" and had a panel discussion with the director Giselle Portenier and our president Susan McLucas afterwards. We had people from all over the world, a few who were working on implementing new anti-FGM laws in their countries. (view poster)