Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2010

The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (“PFGM”) outlaws all acts of FGM on oneself and others as well as attempts, procurement, and participation. It allows no exceptions for consent, religion, or culture, and creates a duty to report to the police any knowledge of planned or completed FGM. The penalty is imprisonment not to exceed 10 years for the perpetrator and five years for any participants or abettors. Violations are considered aggravated if the FGM causes death, the offender has control over the victim (e.g., a parent or guardian), the victim has a disability, the victim contracts HIV/AIDS, and/or the perpetrator is a health worker. The penalty for aggravated violations is life imprisonment. The PFGM Act also prohibits any discrimination against women and girls who have not undergone FGM and discrimination against male relatives of women who have not undergone FGM.