David Prado
The practice can now carry a 20-year jail sentence.
Activists, however, are sceptical about getting such measures enforced.
Egypt has toughened penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM), imposing prison terms of up to 20 years in a push to end the ancient practice.
It is the second time Egypt s parliament has cracked down on FGM - which typically involves the removal of a girl s external genitalia - but activists remain sceptical about enforcement in a country where cutting is deep-rooted and widespread. It s fantastic news that Egypt has strengthened its law on FGM again. However, unless the government takes it seriously this time, nothing is likely to change, Brendan Wynne, co-founder of The Five Foundation advocacy group, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday.
Egypt toughens penalties for female genital mutilation; activists remain sceptical
timeslive.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timeslive.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Egypt toughens penalties for FGM; activists remain sceptical
reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Egypt toughens penalties for FGM; activists remain sceptical
reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As grassroots feminist movement takes hold, Egypt moves to restrict women s rights even further
France 24 5 hrs ago Monique EL-FAIZY © Mahmud Khaled, AFP file photo
While, on the one hand, the Egyptian feminist movement seems to be taking great strides forward, particularly on the grassroots level, with young women inventing new forms of activism to draw attention to endemic sexual violence that plagues them both in their homes and on their streets, the government is moving to further curb women’s autonomy.
In January, the Egyptian cabinet approved a personal status bill that would require women to get the consent of a male guardian to get married, to register a child’s birth or to travel abroad. The draft law also gives fathers priority in child custody matters (currently mothers are given priority) and allows fathers to prevent mothers from traveling with their children.