The Congressional Freethought Caucus — a group of U.S. representatives fighting for secular values on Capitol Hill — endorsed a critical piece of legislation last week.
The Stop FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Act would expand the scope of current anti-female genital mutilation laws in the United States. Crucially, the bill specifically states that performing this procedure as part of a custom or ritual provides no legal defense.
In addition to the traumatic and often lifelong physical and emotional pain this procedure inflicts, girls and women who have it inflicted upon them are at risk for dangerous infections and cysts. Infants born to women who’ve been forced to undergo the procedure have a higher risk of dying. The practice has no medical benefit and is based solely on barbaric religious or cultural traditions that have no place in modern American society. Regardless of religion or tradition, female genital mutilation is a violent and horrific human rights violation. The United States must be a leader in the global effort to outlaw and eradicate this barbaric practice.
Please contact your U.S. representative and urge them to co-sponsor the Stop FGM Act. Click on the red “Take Action” link below and follow the prompt provided to connect with your representative. Feel free to use or adapt the talking points provided. Personalized messages are always the most effective way to reach your elected officials!
