Immediate Release
May 20, 2019
Press Contact: [email protected]

IWF Applauds U.S. House Denouncing Female Genital Mutilation
Lawmakers should make funding available through VAWA to protect women and girls from FGM 

Washington, DC — Independent Women's Forum (IWF) senior advisor Andrea Bottner released the following response after the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on H.Res. 106:

“Independent Women's Forum is pleased the U.S. House of Representatives denounced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. We have been concerned about the growing prevalence of this abuse in the United States and want to make sure young women and girls are protected.

“We urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to make funding available through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for those organizations doing the important work of raising awareness about FGM/C among law enforcement, the medical community, educators, and community leaders. VAWA should also provide model legislation to those states that do not have laws currently against FGM. 

“There are over half a million young women and girls at risk of FGM/C in the United States of America today. This is simply unacceptable. Congress has to act, and we need to stop this horrific, violent crime against women from happening in communities across our country.”

Earlier this year, IWF launched a petition urging Congress to include FGM in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. 

####

www.iwf.org

Independent Women's Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.