Egyptian People's Assembly Approves Child Laws, Makes FGM a Crime

By Safaa Abdoun and Lina Marwan

First Published: June 8, 2008

CAIRO: The People’s Assembly approved amendments to Child Law 12/1996 drafted by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) after months-long debates.

One of the most welcome articles was one criminalizing FGM, stipulating a fine of LE 1,000–5,000 or a prison sentence of between three months to two years for anyone found guilty of conducting a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) procedure.

This article was unanimously approved after a clause was added making the practice permissible in cases of “medical necessity.”