Virginia joins global movement to criminalize female circumcision

Virginia’s General Assembly unanimously passed legislation Wednesday to crack down on female genital mutilation, criminalizing the procedure with up to a year of prison. The bill now awaits Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s signature.

Virginia’s bill makes FGM a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum jail sentence of one year and a $2,500 fine. This is a lower punishment than what was originally proposed earlier this year, which called for a 5-year minimum sentence and a fine up to $1 million.

Read more here:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/virginia-joins-global-movement-criminalize-female-circumcision/