WASHINGTON ― Reps. Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) are aiming to triple the federal penalty for female genital mutilation amid an investigation into the practice in Detroit.
On Thursday, Trott and Maloney proposed the Stopping Abusive Female Exploitation (SAFE) Act to increase the federal penalty for female genital mutilation to 15 years in prison from the current five-year maximum. The bill would also encourage states to implement reporting requirements for suspected cases of female genital mutilation.
The practice has been illegal throughout the United States since 1996, but there have been no federal charges brought under the law until this year.
“These doctors, and all those who commit these horrendous crimes against innocent children, must be held accountable for their unconscionable actions,” Trott, whose district is north of Detroit, said in a statement about the new bill. “We must protect our girls, and this legislation increasing the federal penalty is critical to eradicating this despicable practice from our communities.”
If the SAFE Act were passed, it would not directly affect the ongoing Detroit investigation.
Earlier this month, Michigan became the 26th state to pass legislation outlawing FGM, when Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed a series of bipartisan bills making the practice punishable by 15 years in prison in the state.
Female genital mutilation affects millions of women worldwide, and while the prevalence of the practice hasdeclined overallin the past 30 years, over three times more women in the U.S. had undergone or were at risk of female genital mutilation in 2012 than in 1990. The group that conducted the research attributes the higher risks to an increase in the number of immigrants in the U.S. from countries that practice female genital mutilation, and not an increase in the prevalence of female genital mutilation in those countries.
“Female genital mutilation is a disturbing abuse of women and girls not just around the world but also here at home and it is up to us to stop and properly punish this illegal exploitation,” Maloney said in a statement.
As the Detroit investigation continues, a debate has emerged surrounding the role of religion in female genital mutilation. Nagarwala is a member of the Dawoodi Bohra sect, a small segment of believers within Shia Islam. In April, Michigan state Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R) used the case to justify the introduction of an anti-Sharia bill; however, scholars say that female genital mutilation is not tied to Islamic law. In fact, a group of Muslim activists is working to end the practice within the Bohra community and beyond.
Female genital mutilation, which is practiced across many cultures, is thought to date back to long before the advent of Christianity or Islam. The World Health Organization defines the practice as the intentional alteration or injury of the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, which can lead to complications including hemorrhage, infection, painful intercourse, increased risk of childbirth complications and psychological trauma.
Some advocacy groups stress the importance of education and outreach in addition to punishment. Such efforts include advocating for better training for medical professionals, educating girls about sexual health and the dangers of female genital mutilation, and working to change attitudes and behaviors surrounding female genital mutilation.
Several other nations have taken legislative steps to fight female genital mutilation. Trott and Maloney noted in their statement that perpetrators in the United Kingdom may face up to 14 years in prison, and in France the penalty is up to 20 years.
“By increasing the penalty for this despicable crime and introducing a provision to encourage states implement reporting laws,” Maloney wrote in the statement, “we hope to make it clear that this behavior will not be tolerated.”
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
Jason Fitz, Charles Robinson and Frank Schwab talk about which quarterback rooms concern them and which they find interesting heading into the 2024 NFL season.
Teams have made their big splashes in free agency and made their draft picks, it's time for you to do the same. It's fantasy football mock draft time. Some call this time of year best ball season, others know it's an opportunity to get a leg up on your competition for when you have to draft in August. The staff at Yahoo Fantasy did their first mock draft of the 2024 season to help you with the latter. Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens are here to break it all down by each round and crush some staff members in the process.
It’s key to note that we’re not saying the “best team” or “best roster.” Instead, we’re talking about the best confluence of factors that can outline a path for survival and then success.
With free agency and the draft behind us, what 32 teams look like today will likely be what they look like Week 1 and beyond for the 2024 season. Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski reveal the post-draft fantasy power rankings. The duo break down the rankings in six tiers: Elite offensive ecosystems, teams on the cusp of being complete mixed bag ecosystems, offensive ecosystems with something to prove, offenses that could go either way, and offenses that are best to stay away from in fantasy.
Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the Padres-Marlins trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, as well as recap all the action from this weekend in baseball and send birthday wishes to hall-of-famer Willie Mays.
In the most anticlimactic way possible, Nintendo on Tuesday confirmed years of rumors: The Nintendo Switch 2 console is on the way. "We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year," wrote Shuntaro Furukawa, the president of Nintendo, on X. Rather, Furukawa wanted to warn users not to expect the actual announcement in next month's Nintendo Direct livestream.
Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your finances, stick to a spending plan and reach your money goals. These are the best budget-tracking apps available right now.