Finland approves separate law banning female circumcision | Yle News

Until now, this procedure was punishable under Finnish law only as assault or aggravated assault.

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The Finnish Parliament has voted in favor of the government’s proposal to draft a special law banning the practice and preparation of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Female circumcision refers to the cutting or removal of part or all of the vulva for non-medical reasons.

Previously, FGM was punishable under Finnish law only as assault or aggravated assault.

Prime Minister, government program Petteri OrpoHis administration has said it plans to criminalize female genital mutilation more clearly in the Criminal Code. preparation of draft bill It passed parliament on Tuesday.

The updated law means that the ban on the practice also includes any damage to a woman’s external genitalia and the complete or partial removal of the genitalia.

In addition to performing FGM, the new law also makes it illegal to ‘prepare’ for someone to undergo the procedure.

The government defines preparation as taking a woman or girl abroad for circumcision or forcing or persuading her to undergo the procedure.

The new law will come into force at the end of the year.

An initiative led by the previous government Sanna MarinA similar amendment to the Finnish Criminal Code ran aground due to concerns He said the law would not ban male circumcision either.