From Readers to Visitors – Clinton Global Initiative 2025

(Photo Description: Charlotte with Antonio and Elpida from Narrative Lab)

During our time at the Clinton Global Initiative, we were delighted by a surprise visit from Antonio and Elpida of Narrative Lab, an inspiring organization in Greece where impact, evidence, art, and travel converge to build a more inclusive world. 🌍

They shared that they’ve been following our newsletter and wanted to meet the team in person at CGI. Of course, we couldn’t resist capturing a photo with Charlotte to commemorate the occasion! 📸

We love hearing from our readers, near or far. If you’ve been following along, let us know what you’re enjoying or what you’d like to see more of. Connect with us on social media or drop us a note — we’d love to hear from you!

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

(Now Available in Swahili & Spanish Subtitles)

Monday, October 20th, 2025

Virtual: UNMUTED x Prevention Collaborative

Local Time: 2PM, British Summer Time / UTC +1

Episode(s) Screened: Child Brides

Location: Kinema Platform

Registration Link: Please contact us at unmuted@picturemotion.com

Tuesday, October 21st, 2025

Virtual: UNMUTED x Equimundo

Local Time: 3PM, US Eastern Time / UTC -5

Episode(s) Screened: Child Brides

Location: Kinema Platform

Registration Link: https://kinema.com/events/Unmuted:-Virtual-Screening-and-Conversation-with-Equimundo-lkfxbt

Monday, November 3rd, 2025

In-Person: UNMUTED x Face Forward

Local Time: Evening, Exact Time TBD

Episode(s) Screened: Unveiling the Scars

Location: Radford Theater, Studio City, CA

Registration Link: Please contact us at unmuted@picturemotion.com

Friday, November 28th, 2025

In-Person: UNMUTED x Producciones Clandestinas AC

Local Time: 7:20PM, CST / UTC -6

Episode(s) Screened: Child Brides, Cutting Season, Unveiling the Scars

Location: Radford Theater, Studio City, CA

Registration Link: Please contact us at unmuted@picturemotion.com

More Events to Come…

Can’t make it to any of the above? No worries!

You can fill out this interest form. We’ll keep you posted when there’s new screenings being planned/coming up.

OR – You can also bring UNMUTED to your community.

It’s super easy! Just fill out this interest form, and someone from our team will follow up with more details. We’ve prepared the following so it’s turn-key ready and extremely easy on your end:

• A screening link on Kinema;
• A discussion guide;
• Promotional and social media toolkits; and
• Virtual event support

All free of charge!

Photo: U.S. Department of State / Public Domain
First Lady Michelle Obama honours acid attack survivor Laxmi at the 2014 International Women of Courage Awards, Washington, D.C.

Breaking the Silence:  Laxmi Agarwal

At just 15, Laxmi was attacked with acid by a man more than twice her age after she rejected his advances.

Rather than stay silent, she became one of India’s leading voices against acid violence — championing stricter acid sale laws and advocating for survivor rights and gender justice.

In recognition of her courage and activism, Laxmi received the International Women of Courage Award from Michelle Obama.

Her story reminds us that healing is a political act, and survivors are not victims — they are powerful leaders.

🎬 UNMUTED Episode 3: Unveiling the Scars explores these themes through the stories of acid attack survivors reclaiming their identity, strength, and voice.

Together, Laxmi’s activism and organizations like CERESAV and Face Forward International shed light on the ongoing fight to end acid violence and support survivors worldwide.

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.

We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here:

10th Annual Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival in NYC

UNMUTED had the honor of screening Cutting Season at the 10th Annual Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival in NYC on September 11.

The festival brought together:
• 97+ groundbreaking films
• 63 trailblazing screenplays
• 48 premieres from 20+ countries
• Panels, parties, and unforgettable connections

We were proud to be part of such a thoughtfully curated lineup of diverse stories. During our screening and post-film conversations, it became clear just how urgent and under-discussed the topic of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains.

One audience member, a pediatrician, shared that he had encountered FGM/C in his practice but had not been fully equipped with the information or resources at the time. This moment reminded us how critical it is to bring medical professionals into these conversations and expand access to knowledge, healing, and prevention.

We are now exploring ways to collaborate with doctors, hospitals, and organizations to host screenings, facilitate Q&As, and highlight the groundbreaking work of experts like Dr. Marci Bowers in clitoral restoration.

Thank you to the festival organizers, fellow filmmakers, and everyone who joined us for the screening. 🙏

The dialogue continues, and we are committed to keeping it going.

Bring UNMUTED to Your Community

Unmuted is sparking global conversations on ending gender-based violence through grassroots screenings around the world. From Pakistan to Thailand, the United Kingdom to Mexico, communities are coming together to learn and take action.

We invite you to host a screening in your own community. To support you, we provide everything you need: a screening link on Kinema, a discussion guide, promotional and social toolkits, and virtual event support, all free of charge.

Upcoming Screenings:

Sept 20 – Pakistan Film Society of Islamabad
Sept 26 – The Fawcett Society, United Kingdom (Virtual)

Oct 6 – Freedom United & United Nations Association, New York City, USA

Oct 8 – Mahidol University, Thailand

Nov 28 & Feb 1 – Producciones Clandestinas, Mexico

Use Unmuted to spark meaningful dialogue, advance advocacy, and build solidarity in your community.

Interested in hosting a screening? Please fill out our interest form here!

Breaking the Silence: Zainab Jama Advocates Against FGM

As a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and this year’s Miss World Somalia, Zainab Jama is using her platform to change the conversation around this harmful practice. Through her Beauty with a Purpose campaign, she is bravely advocating for the millions of girls at risk of FGM each year.

During the Miss World competition, Zainab delivered a powerful message about her own experience, helping to break the silence that too often surrounds FGM. Her words were clear and unwavering: this is not tradition, this is trauma, and it must end.

Through grassroots education, survivor-led programs, and policy advocacy, Zainab is demonstrating what leadership rooted in lived experience and compassion looks like. Voices like hers are essential in building a future where every girl can grow up safe, free, and empowered.

DID YOU KNOW

Over 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) across 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Each year, more than 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM, with the majority subjected before the age of 15 ( World Health Organization, 2025).

This practice is a severe violation of human rights, reflecting deep-rooted gender inequality. It can lead to lifelong physical and psychological harm. Urgent action is needed to protect girls and eliminate FGM worldwide.

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.

We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here:

Charlotte and Dena Holding the Gaia Award

UNMUTED Wins Award at ROLA Festival!

Our docuseries UNMUTED, specifically the episode “Child Brides,” won the Gaia Award at the Ray of Light Awards Festival in Ibiza! ROLA is an international film, TV, and web festival that celebrates global creators and impactful storytelling. This festival is inspired by and dedicated to actor Ray Stevenson.

The Gaia Award recognizes work that highlights the power of female essence and honors women as leaders. We’re incredibly proud of everyone who contributed to UNMUTED and grateful to receive this distinguished honor!

Continue reading to see how you can support our mission and become involved in our UNMUTED impact campaign! ⬇️

Charlotte Interviewed at ROLA

Participate in the UNMUTED Screening Tour!

Last month, we officially launched the grassroots screening tour for UNMUTED! We’re calling for organizations, universities, and communities around the world to host private and exclusive screenings. Each screening is accompanied by a discussion guide, promotional toolkit, and opportunities for deeper engagement. There is still time to register and get involved with this powerful movement to end gender-based violence. We encourage you to be a part of this important initiative!

Sign up to host a screening here or email unmuted@picturemotion.com with any questions!

FGM Survivor Shares Her Story on TikTok

Original Article from The New York Times

Shamsa Sharawe, a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM), has gained recognition on TikTok for sharing her story and surgical reconstruction journey. Ms. Sharawe, who was cut at six years old in Somalia, uses her platform to raise awareness on FGM and advocate for more discourse around the subject matter.

Though FGM is illegal in many countries, millions of girls are still subjected to the practice, and tens of thousands of them have died as a result. Survivors suffer from physical pain and emotional trauma from FGM. Reconstruction surgeries have eased the pain and changed the lives of numerous FGM survivors. In 2023, Ms. Sharawe traveled from her home in Britain to Germany for a surgical procedure to reconstruct her genitalia and documented her experience on TikTok. In addition to raising awareness about FGM, Ms. Sharawe’s goal is to fight the stigma around women’s health and share resources with other FGM survivors.

For our docuseries UNMUTED, we spoke with Dr. Marci L. Bowers, a gynecologic surgeon based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is considered a pioneer in the field of Gender Affirmation Surgery and the first US surgeon to learn the technique of functional clitoral restoration after FGM.

DID YOU KNOW

Genital reconstruction surgeries are available in some parts of the United States, Europe, and Africa. The N.H.S., England’s healthcare system which provides almost every medical treatment, only covers one service called deinfibulation for the most severe cases of FGM. The N.H.S. does not fund reconstruction surgeries, leaving people like Ms. Sharawe with significant medical debts.

Continue Reading…

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.

We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here:

Stay Tuned for Our Collaboration with Picture Motion

In case you missed our last newsletter, we’re continuing our work on the UNMUTED impact campaign with Picture Motion, and we couldn’t be more excited by what’s taking shape.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our work! Meanwhile, please follow our social media via the icons on top of this newsletter! ⬆️

And if you are interested in hosting a screening of UNMUTED and would like to request a screener, please fill out this form and we’ll get in touch with you!

Memorializing the Armenian Genocide: From 1915 to Today

April 24 marks the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, when an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed and displaced by the Ottoman Empire, modern-day Turkey, beginning in 1915. Armenian women experienced particularly severe forms of violence, including mass killings, forced deportations, abductions, and assimilation. Many were subjected to sexual violence, forced conversions, and the erasure of cultural identity through placement in foreign households.

To this day, the Armenian Genocide remains a point of contention, as the Turkish government does not formally recognize it as genocide. This legacy of denial, combined with geopolitical tensions in the region, continues to shape the experiences of Armenians today. In 2020, Turkey provided political and military support to Azerbaijan during its offensive in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), a conflict that resulted in significant civilian casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands of people—many of them women and children. That trauma deepened again in 2023 when over 120,000 ethnic Armenians fled Artsakh following a months-long blockade and, according to human rights observers, a renewed military operation by Azerbaijan. In September, drone and artillery strikes reportedly hit civilian areas, killing dozens, including women, children, and the elderly. Once again, many Armenian women were forced to leave behind their homes, communities, and livelihoods.

As we commemorate the genocide, we also recognize the ongoing challenges faced by Armenians and acknowledge the resilience of Armenian women—past and present—who continue to navigate displacement, violence, and erasure with strength and determination.

Continue Reading…

Photo From: Wikipedia

Honoring Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014)

Original Article from 19th News

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Maya Angelou was a poet, performer, activist, and author whose work left a lasting impact on American culture. Overcoming a difficult childhood marked by trauma and silence, she found her voice through writing and the arts. Her 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, broke new ground with its honest portrayal of Black womanhood and resilience.

Throughout her life, Angelou was also a singer, dancer, civil rights activist, and educator. She wrote and performed poetry, worked with prominent civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr., and later read at President Clinton’s inauguration. Angelou remains a symbol of strength, creativity, and the power of speaking one’s truth.

DID YOU KNOW

Maya Angelou turned 40 on April 4, 1968, the same day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The devastating news deeply affected her, and for years afterward, she chose not to celebrate her birthday. Instead, she and Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s widow, shared a quiet tradition. Every year on that day, they would send each other flowers or make a phone call, honoring his memory with love and remembrance.

Continue Reading…

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.

We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here:

WXF Welcomes New Winter/Spring Intern

Ani Saroyan joined us this month as our Winter/Spring intern! Majoring in both Political Science and Public Affairs at UCLA, Ani is invested in film, social issues, and storytelling that drives change. During her time with us, she’ll contribute to meaningful projects, gain hands-on experience in the non-fiction space, and build valuable connections. Welcome, Ani!

By UCLA – UCLA Arts Brand Guide, Public Domain

Photo by U.S. Army: First Class Of Women At West Point Academy In 1976

West Point Closes Clubs For Women And Minorities

Original Article from AP News

Recent policy changes at West Point Academy have led to the dissolution of student-led organizations focused on gender, race, and identity, impacting vital support systems for female cadets and other underrepresented groups. These clubs provided mentorship, leadership opportunities, and a sense of belonging in an institution where women and minority groups have historically faced unique challenges.

The same memo issued by West Point also ordered all other cadet clubs to pause activities until officials can review the groups to ensure that they comply with Trump administration rules.

Continue Reading…

DID YOU KNOW

One of the disbanded clubs, The Corbin Forum, a leadership and advocacy club for female cadets at West Point, was founded in 1976, the same year women were first admitted to the academy, to support their integration into military life. The club was named after Margaret Corbin, a Revolutionary War heroine, and the first woman to receive a military pension, the forum aimed to educate cadets on women’s roles in the military and address challenges faced by female cadets. Over the years, it became a vital space for mentorship, leadership development, and discussions on gender integration in the armed forces.

Continue Reading…

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission.

We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series. With your help, we are one step closer to stopping child marriage, stopping FGM/C and preventing acid violence by changing laws and minds.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here: