HARTFORD, CT – An effort to raise a bill prohibiting female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee has been stopped short for a third straight year, leaving advocates and lawmakers confused.
According to the federal government, FGM/C refers to cutting and other procedures that injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It may be called “female circumcision” in certain parts of the world. The practice has no health benefits and can lead to a range of physical and mental health problems.
Connecticut remains one of nine states that hasn’t banned the practice of partial or total removal of female genitalia. The other eight states without a ban are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
The federal government, however, opposes FGM/C, no matter the type, degree, or severity, and no matter what the motivation for performing it. While the government understands that FGM/C “may be carried out in accordance with traditional beliefs and as part of adulthood initiation rites,” nevertheless, the practice is considered to be a serious human rights abuse, and a form of gender-based violence and child abuse.
According to the US State Department, “It is against U.S. law to perform FGM/C on a girl under the age of 18, or to send or attempt to send her outside the United States so FGM/C can be performed. Violation of the law is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, fines, or both. There is no exception for performing FGM/C because of tradition or culture. Cutting and other procedures that injure the female genital organs of a girl under 18 are prohibited under U.S. law.”
According to FGC survivor Mariya Taher, female genital mutilation is a global issue that causes physical and psychological harm. Taher, who co-founded Sahiyo – an organization advocating against FGM/C – said the practice is mainly done on children where they don’t have a say in the matter.
Religion, tradition, and identity, are reasons why the practice is justified in certain communities, Taher said. She explained that there is a large misconception around FGM/C and those that practice it think it’s for betterment of the girl by keeping them “pure.” In reality, Taher said, it is doing more harm than good.
The Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C website states that FGM/C is performed for many different reasons including controlling female sexuality and ensuring faithfulness to either oneself before marriage or during.
While there is no state law on FGM/C, federal law prohibits the practice on minors and is punishable up to five years in prison. The federal Stop FGM Act states that people also can’t go to another state or country to perform the procedure.
Connecticut may not be a place where the practice is performed, but there is concern that it could become a safe haven for those who want to engage in it. During a panel discussion in January, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz supported the effort to raise the bill and expressed concern.
“I would hate to think that people were coming to our state to perpetuate this very violent act,” Bysiewicz said.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released a report on March 7, showing a 15% increase in FGM survivors since 2016 and estimating that 230 million girls and women have been victims of FGM/C worldwide. The coalition used data from 2013 from the Population Reference Bureau that shows more than 2,600 girls and women are at risk of FGM/C in the state and that number is expected to grow.
Taher said that FGM/C survivors are without the suppport services they need.
“We garnered so much support and it just feels really frustrating and disappointing that with all the stories, all the sharing, that wasn’t enough to really help people or help them raise the bill,” Taher said.
