Dear Congressman,

While the roots of female genital mutilation (FGM) might not be in the United States, the women within our borders are still not untouched by its horrors. As our country continues to become more diverse, we need to insure that our citizens are protected from the life changing terrors of female genital mutilation. While some states have taken steps in the right direction, this alone is not enough. A problem of this magnitude requires national action and further federal legislation.

FGM is something that has serious and long term consequences for its victims. According to Dr. Nahid Toubia, the president and CEO of RAINBO which is an organization for health and rights for African women, the procedures are often performed without anesthesia or proper surgical instruments. This leads to infections, and possibly ulcers, cysts, infertility, and even death.

The main problem regarding the United States and female genital mutilation is that it has not been criminalized in all 50 states. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services only 16 states have established criminal sanctions against FGM since 1998. While in 1996 a federal law was passed criminalizing FGM, this law has numerous loop holes. Not only does it only aim to protect women under the age of 18 but it also allows for certain exceptions when FGM is felt necessary to protect the health of the woman. These exceptions allow for a large gray area in what is and isnt acceptable. While this issue is coming to the forefront of debate in many African nations, it also needs to be confronted here in every single state.

As a global leader, it is the responsibility of the United States to take a firm stance on this issue. Female genital mutilation not only violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but it violates some of the precious rights our country was founded upon. Please take action in your state and show the perpetrators of FGM that it will not be tolerated any longer.