WASHINGTON, DC – February 6, 2019 – Today, on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) and Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA-10) introduced a resolution to enhance global awareness of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), recognize it as a human rights violation against women and girls, and urge the U.S. Government and international community to undertake coordinated efforts to eliminate the harmful practice.

An estimated 200 million girls and women have been victims of FGM/C, with more than 3 million estimated to be at risk of being cut annually. The practice is most common in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia and is associated with several cultural traditions but is not tied to any one religion.

“Every girl, no matter where she’s born, has a right to live free of violence,” said Frankel. “Today’s bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that these gross human rights violations are unacceptable and horrific practices like FGM/C must stop.”

“Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a horrendous practice and has absolutely no place in America - or any other place in this world,” said Perry. “FGM is an unconscionable, systematic form of abuse and subjugation perpetuated against the youngest and most vulnerable among us. Now’s the time to stand up for the voiceless. I appreciate the work of my colleague Congresswoman Frankel on this joint resolution to condemn FGM and call for international action to prevent this atrocity now and in the future.”

In part, the resolution reads:

"That the House of Representatives:

1. recognizes female genital mutilation/cutting as a violation of the human rights of women and girls;
2. affirms the importance of ending the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting globally for the safety and security of women;
3. calls upon the international community to increase efforts to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation/cutting; and
4. urges the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development in their gender programming to incorporate coordinated efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation/cutting.

Full text can be found here.

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