WUNRN
KENYA PASSES LAW AGAINST FGM -
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Kenya has become the latest African country to make
female genital mutilation illegal. The practice is still widespread in
Kenya is the most
recent African country to ban female genital mutilation, with the passing
of a law making it illegal to practice or procure it or take somebody abroad
for cutting. The law even prohibits derogatory remarks about women who have not
undergone FGM. Offenders may be jailed or fined or both.
Members of the Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association said it was a historic day. Linah Kilimo, its chairperson, said the move would improve school attendance. And Sophia Abdi Noor said:
I have fought for 18 years to achieve this legislation. Today is independence day for women. Men got their independence in 1963 – but today women have achieved independence from the cruel hands of society.
Unicef congratulated
It is a great day for the girl
child of
Nobody imagines this means FGM
will never take place again in
But in nine countries (including
some of those where it is illegal) it is still widely practised. In