Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2019
Communications Director: Kelly Whittier
Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2019
The District to join dozens of other states in further restricting the practice of Female Genital Mutilation
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, June 18th, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) introduced the “Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2019” to broadly prohibit the act of female genital mutilation in the District and, as importantly, prohibits a parent, guardian, or conservator from removing a person under their care from the District for the purpose of facilitating female genital mutilation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of girls and women living the US who have undergone or been at risk of this practice has tripled over the last two decades.
“Female genital mutilation is a practice with no valid medical purpose that can cause extensive harm to both the physical and mental wellbeing of young women. The District must keep pace with other states in our region and across the country by further restricting and penalizing this practice to ensure that we are in no way a destination or accommodating jurisdiction for this procedure,” said Councilmember Cheh.
Although rarely performed in the United States, girls remain at risk as they are taken abroad by a caregiver to areas where this practice is performed. Over time, more than half of states have passed laws specifically prohibiting female genital mutilation, many explicitly prohibiting the removal of a person from the United States for the purpose of facilitating this practice. These laws help ensure that no woman is subjected to this practice, whether in their home country or abroad.
Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Charles Allen, Brianne Nadeau, Vincent Gray, Elissa Silverman, and David Grosso joined Councilmember Cheh as co-introducers. A copy of the legislation is attached.
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