This week, the Ohio legislature sent a bill to Gov. Kasich’s desk that prohibits performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on anyone under the age of 18, or transporting a minor to a location for the purpose of performing FGM. Offenses would be a second-degree felony, and it specifically states that “cultural or ritual necessity” is not a defense to the crime.

In addition to the traumatic and often lifelong physical and emotional pain FGM inflicts on women, girls and women who have FGM are at risk for infections and cysts. Infants born to women who have had FGM have a higher risk of dying.

Please contact Gov. Kasich’s office to tell him to sign the bill into law, protecting the estimated 24,320 women and girls currently at risk for FGM in Ohio.

CONTACT INFORMATION

You can submit a comment to the governor’s office online by following this link or you can call the office at this number:

Governor John Kasich

Phone: (614) 466-3555

TALKING POINTS

Please feel free to use or adapt the talking points provided below

As a citizen and taxpayer, I am strongly urging you to sign SB 214 into law, outlawing the practice of performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on women and girls under the age of 18 in the state of Ohio.

Regardless of religion or tradition, this practice is a violent and horrific human rights violation and Ohio must not be complacent in allowing it to occur.

Please sign SB 214, protecting the estimated 24,320 women and girls at risk for FGM in the state. Thank you for your time.