Yemen: New Law Needed to Ban Female Genital Mutilation
18 February 2010
Despite the existing law, which prohibits health workers from performing female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice continues to be carried out. “Nine years after the ban we see that it works the opposite of what was intended,” said Wafa Ahmad Ali, a leader of the Sanaa-based Yemen Women’s Union (YWU). “Now instead of going to the hospital where the tools are at least clean, FGM is carried out at home.” (IRIN News)
The Ministry of Human Rights supports a new study on the prevalence of FGM and has indicated that if the results prove that the practice is still being performed, they will push for a new law to be passed within the next four years.
A study conducted in 2001 by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Women’s National Committed indicated that FGM was particularly widespread in
While the government has issued laws against FGM, they have not been adequately enforced and thus have allowed the practice to continue being carried out privately. Many blame the practice’s prevalence on the attitude towards women in
“At the heart of this problem is the lack of equality between men and women,” said YWU’s leader Ali. “We are struggling for our rights in
Compiled from: “Yemen: New FGM/C Law Possible ‘Within Four Year’ – Minister,” IRIN News (10 February 2010).
For More Information
Please see the Global Gender Issues section of this website as well the What's New article "The Government of Yemen Moves to Stem Female Genital Mutilation" (18 July 2008).
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