1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21923August 27, 2004Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): BackgroundInformation and Issues for CongressTiaji Salaam, CoordinatorAnalyst in Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Tra
2、de Divisionname redacted and name redactedSpecialists in Social LegislationDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryCongress has acted to help prevent female genital mutilation (FGM) in severalways. Broadly, it has passed legislation that targets women and aims to improve healthconditions around the gl
3、obe. Specifically, Congress has passed language protectingvictims of FGM and criminalizing the practice in the United States in the FY1997Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations, P.L. 104-208. It has also passed the ForeignAffairs Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 20
4、01,P.L. 106-429, which contains language requiring the U.S. Department of State tocompile statistics on FGM.FGM is a term that refers to the removal or alteration of the female genitalia. It isestimated that 2 million girls in the Middle East and Africa are subjected to theprocedure per year. The pr