Somalia: Proposed Law Would Ban Female Genital Mutilation
The
Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development in Somalia will soon propose legislation to ban female genital mutilation (FGM). Somalia’s constitution prohibits FGM as a violation of human rights, but Somalia has no specific legislation that outlaws the harmful practice. FGM is prevalent in Somalia, with UNICEF estimating that
98% of Somali girls and women aged 15-49 have experienced FGM. The Somali Minister of Women’s Affairs said, “[t]ime has come for us to eradicate this bad practice [of FGM] and protect the rights of girls and women in our country.”