10 December 2009
Ugandan parliamentarians have voted to ban female genital mutilation with a measure that would sentence practitioners to jail for 10 years, or for life if the victim dies. Rights groups applauded the move, but called for education campaigns to coincide with the new legislation.
MP Alice Alaso stated that the vote was “a very significant achievement.” She continued, “This is a warning signal - whoever dares practice female genital mutilation will be subject to the law.” (BBC)
Compiled from: BBC News, “Uganda Bans Female Genital Mutilation” (10 December 2009).