Skip to main content

Sudanese activists skeptical female genital mutilation law will stop practice

Sudanese activists told Al-Monitor that female circumcision continues in rural communities and that laws prevent women's rights.

Sudanese women walk in the capital Khartoum's district of Jureif Ghar on May 5, 2020. - Sudan's cabinet approved amendments to the criminal code that would punish those who perform Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with up to three years in prison and a fine. The practice has long been viewed, especially in rural communities, as a "rite of passage" for girls and a way to preserve their chastity. Rights groups have for years decried as barbaric the practise which can lead to myriad physical, psychological and
Sudanese women walk in the capital Khartoum's district of Jureif Ghar, Sudan, May 5, 2020. — ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images

Sudan reportedly made female genital mutilation illegal in late April, drawing praise from the international community. But some female activists in the African country say this will not lead to the end of the harmful practice.

One Sudanese leader of a civil society organization working for women’s rights said that the state is duping the outside world on the issue in the same way it did under deposed former ruler Omar al-Bashir.

Related Topics

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in