The state legislature is considering a bill that would outlaw female genital mutilation. While federal law already prohibits the practice, Connecticut is one of 24 states where there is no specific state law making FGM a crime, meaning the state itself cannot bring a prosecution.
FGM is prevalent among some cultures in Africa and the Middle East. It involves the removal of a girl’s clitoris and sometimes other parts of her genitalia. It can cause lifelong pain, increased risk of infection, and loss of sexual pleasure.
The legislature’s Committee on Children this week heard powerful testimony from FGM survivor Kadi Doumbia who was born in Mali, and lives in Chicago.