Every year during holidays a lot of girls who live in the United States, in Canada and in Europe are brought overseas and mutilated. The public authorities in all these countries know about it. In the United States this is possible although Female Genital Mutilation is banned in the United States since 1996! This law (Criminalization of Female Genital Mutilation Act), which was introduced by US-Senator Harry Reid, provides for prison sentences of up to five years for anyone who mutilates a child. But there is a loophole in the law: FGM is banned within the United States but the law does not adress the possibilty that the girls are brought overseas to get mutilated.

But this could change soon because the US-Congressman Joseph Crowley (New York) and US-Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (California) have introduced an Act (The Girls Protection Act of 2010) that will address exactely this loophole so that Mutilation is not allowed to be done overseas. Crowley and Bono Mack want to follow the european example because FGM that is done overseas is already banned in most european countries. When this law is passed another important measure in the fight against the horrible crime FGM has been taken! Nevertheless, it is very important, that legislation is enforced. And this is only possible if the countries follow the example of France where medical examinations of young girls are obligatory to controll whether they were mutilated or not. Apart from that nothing will change.

Since 1997 another important US-legislation is existing: US representatives to the World Bank and similar financial institutions are required to oppose loans to countries where FGM is widespread and in which there are no anti-FGM educational programs. There has not been a realization of this law although it is effectiv since 1997.

Waris Dirie:

„I expect that laws which are passed are also enforced. So that we can make a big step forward in the fight against this horrible crime.“