Laws on Female Genital Mutilation

U.S. Legislation: Recognizing the growing problem of FGM in the U.S., American lawmakers have updated laws about the practice. It’s still tough to prosecute people who violate the law, because of secrecy so one of the most important things is education and support of young women. Here are the facts on FGM in American laws:

• Congress has directed the Department of Health and Human Services to undertake several FGM-related interventions. These include compiling data on the extent of FGM in the United States, engaging in education and outreach activities to relevant communities, and developing recommendations for the medical community/li>
• The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service must provide information on the harmful effects of FGM as well as on the legal consequences of FGM under criminal or child protection statutes to all aliens issued U.S. visas.
• Congress enacted legislation requiring U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions to actively oppose non-humanitarian loans to countries that have not taken measures to prevent FGM.
• Since 1994, seven states (California, Delaware, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) passed legislation against the practice of FGM. Legislation is pending in Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon.

Global Legislation:

• Countries with laws or regulations against FGM include Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Ghana, Great Britain, Guinea, Sudan, Sweden, and the United States. Nine African countries in total have laws against FGM
• Existing laws against assault and child abuse cover FGM in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.
• Governments that support FGM eradication include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.