September Newsletter: AHA Foundation files Amucis Curiae in first ever prosecuted FGM case, Bipartisan coalition urges Congress to add anti-FGM language to VAWA, McGill University professor sheds light on child marriage in the U.S., and more

Dear AHA Foundation Supporter,

After defense lawyers challenged the federal law’s constitutionality in the first-ever prosecuted female genital mutilation (FGM) case in the U.S., the AHA Foundation filed an Amicus Curiae Brief in support of the federal anti-FGM law. This motion is in support of the U.S. government’s position affirming the constitutionality of the federal law, 18 USC § 116, that criminalized FGM in 1996. Read an update on the case and our work here.

This month we interviewed Dr. Alissa Koski, an Assistant Professor at McGill University who spent time researching child marriage in the U.S. while working at UCLA. Read about her alarming findings in our blog “Child Marriage in the United States: How Common Is the Practice, And Which Children Are at Greatest Risk?”

Despite our efforts, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 273, the harmful child marriage law, into effect. We appreciate all our supporters writing in opposition of it and we will continue working to protect children in California through advocacy and events this fall. Yesterday our Senior Director, Amanda Parker, spoke at a press conference in Pennsylvania to educate state legislators on the harms of child marriage and urge them to pass HB 2542/SB 1219 which would end this abusive practice.

Thanks to supporters like you, AHA Foundation has made important strides against female genital mutilation (FGM) in just the past few weeks. After months of galvanizing support, a bipartisan coalition formed by the AHA Foundation sent an urgent appeal to Congress, asking them to add provisions to the Violence Against Women Act that would protect women and girls from FGM. This federal bill has given zero attention to protecting girls from FGM in the U.S. since its inception 24 years ago. Find how you can help here.

With my deepest gratitude for your loyal support,

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Founder