The Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development in Somalia will soon propose legislation to ban female genital mutilation (FGM). Somalia’s constitution prohibits FGM as a violation of human rights, but Somalia has no specific legislation that outlaws the harmful practice. FGM is prevalent in Somalia, with UNICEF estimating that 98% of Somali girls and women aged 15-49 have experienced FGM. The Somali Minister of Women’s Affairs said, “[t]ime has come for us to eradicate this bad practice [of FGM] and protect the rights of girls and women in our country.”
Compiled from: Somalia to introduce law prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation, Horseed Media (August 3, 2015).