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Simpson Thacher recently achieved a victory on behalf of a Guinean victim of domestic violence and female genital mutilation (FGM) seeking asylum in the United States.  The Firm represented Ms. A-F-, who was born in Guinea, where she was subjected to FGM at a young age.  At 13, Ms. A-F- was forced to marry a man nearly 30 years her senior and move with him to the United States, where he began subjecting her to severe physical and sexual abuse.  After managing to escape from her husband, Ms. A-F- eventually was brought to Sanctuary for Families, with whom Simpson Thacher partnered to provide her with pro bono representation.  Ms. A-F- feared further violence, including further FGM, if she returned to Guinea.
 

Sanctuary for Families is a non-profit organization in New York State dedicated exclusively to serving domestic violence victims and their children.  Simpson Thacher litigation associates Chantale Fiebig and Colleen Gilg prepared Ms. A-F-’s asylum application with guidance from litigation partner Barry Ostrager.