SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudan criminalises female genital mutilation

29/4/2020: Multiple sources – Sudan criminalises female genital mutilation

• Radio Dabanga

• CNN, by Nima Elbagir and Rob Picheta

• BBC

• AP, by Samy Magdy

• Reuters, by Nita Bhalla

• Guardian, by Zeinab Mohammed Salih

Sudan's government has criminalised female genital mutilation (FGM), making it punishable by three years in jail.

 An amendment of the Sudan’s criminal code was passed outlawing FGM, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the action fell under the government's commitment to international human rights agreements.

 According to United Nations data, around 88% of the female population in Sudan have suffered FGM. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry called the move "an advanced step in order to terminate this predominant socially-rooted trend".

 The Foreign Ministry highlighted that for this law to be successfully enforced, there needs to be a community effort and coordination between "all parties" in raising awareness of the issue through community outreach.