SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AP - Sudan ratifies law criminalizing female genital mutilation

10/7/2020: AP - Sudan ratifies law criminalizing female genital mutilation

 AP’s report on Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council “sweeping” set of amendments to Sudan’s criminal code, including the banning of female genital mutilation (FGM), highlights criticism from activists.

 Nahid Toubia, a leading Sudanese women’s health rights activist specialising in ending FGM, questioning the timing of the ratification, saying the coronavirus lockdown limits activists’ ability to mobilise awareness campaigns or train police.

 Toubia said: “currently there are fuel shortages and long daily power cuts as well as rising infections of Covid-19… communication and people’s mobility are severely hampered. These are not the conditions where advocacy for legislating against FGM is a priority or even possible.”

 Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said “legal reviews and amendments will continue until we address all distortions in the legal systems in Sudan.”