“Silence is an accomplice to injustice."
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali,Founder of AHA Foundation
OUR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS
LEND YOUR VOICE
TO PROTECT WOMEN AND GIRLS
AHA Foundation works to protect women and girls in the U.S. from female genital mutilation (FGM), child and forced marriage, and honor violence by advocating to expand and strengthen federal and state laws.
Download our Ban FGM Legislative Toolkit which has all the essential information and resources to help ban FGM in every state in the U.S.
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Bill That Can Tackle the Issue
H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, is a VAWA reauthorization bill introduced by the House of Representatives that includes provisions addressing FGM.
Take Action
Please urge your Senators to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Bill That Can Tackle the Issue
Federal bills S.742/HR1738 would eliminate major visa loopholes that have allowed thousands of minors to be subjected to child marriages through our immigration system.
Take Action
Contact your federal lawmakers in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and urge them to support these bills.
STATE LEGISLATION
STATE LEGISLATION AGAINST FGM
WHY WE NEED
STATE LEGISLATION AGAINST FGM
Strong legislation against FGM:
- Sends a STRONG MESSAGE THAT FGM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the state
- GIVES PROSECUTORS THE TOOLS and access to resources to bring perpetrators to justice
- Signals to state prosecutors that FGM IS A CRIME that must be prosecuted
- Fills gaps in federal legislation such as EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TARGETED TO AT RISK COMMUNITIES and the professionals likely to encounter girls at risk of FGM
- PREVENTS GIRLS BEING TRAFFICKED ACROSS STATE BORDERS to perform FGM
CHECK THE STATUS AND STRENGTH OF ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION IN YOUR STATE
How to tackle the issue:
Bills H3332/S834 carry criminal penalties that include imprisonment of up to 10 years, they also prosecute parents/guardians who enable the procedure, ban vacation cutting, prohibit the use of religion and culture as a defense, allow a civil cause of action, and include an education and outreach provision. Both bills have yet to move forward in their respective chambers.
Take action:
Massachusetts residents, please urge your state legislators to support these bills without delay.
How to tackle the issue:
State senator Julie Raque Adams of Kentucky plans to introduce strong anti-FGM legislation in the upcoming legislative session. AHA Foundation is currently working with Sen. Adams for this new initiative, but early support for this bill is critical.
Take action:
Kentucky residents, please contact your state lawmakers in both the House and Senate and call on them to lend their support or offer to cosponsor this legislation.
Bill That Can Tackle the Issue:
In mid-2019, Council member Mary Cheh introduced B23-0339, the Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2019. If passed, this comprehensive bill would receive an A-grade based on AHA Foundation’s model standards and provide for a civil cause of action in addition to criminalization of the practice.
Take action:
Washington, D.C. residents, please urge your councilmembers to support these bills without delay.
STATE LEGISLATION AGAINST CHILD MARRIAGE
Bill That Can Tackle the Issue
The Massachusetts Senate recently passed S.2294, a bill that would outlaw child marriage in the state without exceptions. The bill is now in the House for consideration.
Take Action
Massachusetts residents, please urge your state representatives to support this bill without delay. We recommend using all mediums for contacting your legislators including emailing, calling, and using social media.
Bill That Can Tackle the Issue
Bills SB81/HB360 eliminate exceptions to the legal marital age and reserve marriage, a serious legal contract, for those who have reached the age of majority. HB360 has passed unanimously in the House and is now in the Senate for consideration.
Take Action
Pennsylvania residents, please urge your state Senators to pass this bill without delay. We recommend using all mediums for contacting your legislators including emailing, calling, and using social media.
Amanda Parker, AHA Foundation’s Senior Director, protests child and forced marriage at New Jersey’s Penn Station in July 2016
Laws and policies against FGM, forced and child marriage, and honor violence, play a critical role in protecting women and girls against these abuses in the U.S.
YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
“Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice”
Ayaan Hirsi Ali