LAWS OF THE WORLD ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

 

This page provides links to laws of the world dealing with female genital mutilation and harmful customary practices  I does not include references to laws that establish committees or bodies to study the issue or general criminal law provisions that could applied to female genital mutilation, but do not refer to the procedure specifically.

 

 

 

AustraliaAustralian Capital Territory

 

Crimes (Amendment) Act (No. 3) 1995.

 

 

Australia—New South Wales

 

Crimes Act 1900 [Section 45] [initially enacted by  Act (No. 58 of 1994) to amend the Crimes Act 1900 to prohibit female genital mutilation, 22 September 1994].

 

 

Australia—Northern Territory

 

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ccotntoa498/index.html">Criminal Code of the Northern Territory of Australia [Section 186A-186D] [initially enacted by the Criminal Code Amendment Act (No. 2) 1995, 28 December 1995].

 

 

Australia—South Australia

 

Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 [Sections 32-33B] [initially enacted by the Statutes Amendment (Female Genital Mutilation and Child Protection) Act 1995 (Act No. 24 of 1995), 27 April 1995].

 

 

Australia—Victoria

 

Crimes (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 1996 (Act No. 46 of 1996), 26 November 1996.

 

 

Belgium

 

Law of 28 December 2000 on the criminal protection of minors [Article 29].

 

 

Burkina Faso

 

Law No. 43/96/ADP of 13 November 1996, the Penal Code [Articles 380-382].

 

 

Canada

Act to amend the Criminal Code (child prostitution, child sex tourism, criminal harassment and female genital mutilation), 25 April 1997 [Section 5].

 

 

Djibouti

 

Penal Code, 1995 [Article 333].

 

 

Egypt

Order No. 261 of 8 July 1996 of the Minister of Health and Population.

 

 

Ethiopia

 

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 8 December 1994 [Article 35].

 

 

France

 

Decree No. 95-1000 of 6 September 1995 setting forth the Code of Medical Ethics [Article 41].

 

 

Ghana

 

An Act (484 of 1994) to amend the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) to include in the Code the offence of female circumcisions and for connected purposes, 4 August 1994.

 

 

Guinea

 

Decree No. D/96/205/PRG/SGG of 5 December 1996 promulgating the Code of Medical Deontology [Article 40].

 

 

Ivory Coast

 

Law No. 98-757 of 23 December 1998 on the repression of certain forms of violence against women.

 

 

Madagascar

 

Decree No. 98-945 of 4 December 1998 setting forth the Code of Medical Ethics [Article 39].

 

 

New Zealand

 

Crimes Act (1961-1999) Act No. 20 of 1999 [Sections 204A-205A] [initially enacted by the Crimes Amendment Act 1995 (Act No. 49 of 1995), 2 August 1995].

 

 

Norway

Law No. 74 of 15 December 1995 prohibiting female genital mutilation.

 

 

Senegal

 

Law No. 99-05 of 29 January 1999 amending various provisions of the Penal Code [Article 2].

 

 

South Africa

 

Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act No. 4 of 2000) [Section 8].

 

 

Sweden

 

Law No. 316 of 27 May 1982 prohibiting female circumcision.

 

 

Tanzania

 

Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, 1998 (Act No. 4 of 1998), 1 July 1998 [Section 21].

 

 

Togo

 

Law No. 98-016 of 17 November 1998 prohibiting female genital mutilation in Togo.

 

 

Uganda

 

The Children Statute 1996 (Statute No. 6 of 1996) [Section 8].

 

Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 22 September 1995 [Article 33].

 

 

United Kingdom

 

Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985, 16 July 1985.

 

 

United States

 

Public Law No. 104-208, 30 September 1996 [Sections 579, 644, and 645].

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United States—New York City

 

Local Law No. 1066 of 1997.