Activists press for tougher penalties against female genital mutilation in Egypt
Amendments are being finalized to crack down on female genital mutilation which remains popular in rural Egypt.
CAIRO — Amendments to a number of articles in the Egyptian law incriminating female genital mutilation (FGM) have recently been finalized, toughening penalties against the perpetrator of this atrocious act.
On June 14, on the National Day for Elimination of FGM, head of Egypt’s National Council for Women Maya Morsy told reporters during an online press conference that the proposed amendments include widening the criminalization scope and redefining the act of FGM as a form of deformity.
Morsy said that they also included a solution for incriminating medical professionals undertaking the procedure, giving no further details.
The finalized proposal was submitted by representatives of the National Council for Women, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Al-Azhar institution and the three churches as well as a number of prosecutors.
