Egypt increased the penalties female genital mutilation (FGM), to be from 5 to 20 years in prison

A statement by the Egyptian Cabinet said that it approved a draft law amending some provisions of the Penal Code promulgated by Law No. 58 of 1937, to establish a deterrent punishment for crimes of female genital mutilation (FGM). The amendment to Article 242 stipulates, “Anyone who performs FGM of a female by removing part of her genitals, or modifying, mutilating, or inflicting injuries to these organs shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of no less than five years.” According to the text of the same amendment: "If that act results in a permanent disability, the penalty is temporary hard labor, for a period of no less than 7 years. If the act leads to death, then the punishment is temporary hard labor, for a period of not less than 10 years."  In addition, the penalty shall be temporary hard labor if the person who performed the FGM was a doctor or practicing the profession of nursing. “If his crime resulted in a permanent disability, the penalty shall be temporary hard labor for a period of no less than 10 years. But if the act leads to death, the penalty shall be temporary hard labor, for a period of not less than 15 years. Not more than 20 years old. " In contrast to the aforementioned penalties, the court shall order the removal of the perpetrator from his government position for a period not exceeding 5 years if the crime was committed because of or due to the performance of his job, and the denial of the perpetrator from practicing the profession for a similar period, and the closure of the private facility in which the FGM was performed. The judgment will also be published in two widely circulated daily newspapers and on websites designated by the judgment at the expense of the convicted person, according to the amendment text. In addition, the amendment specifies prison sentences for anyone who "requests FGM and has been circumcised at his request ... also punishes anyone who promotes, encourages, or advocates in any way to commit the crime of FGM, even if his act has no effect." Prior to this amendment, the penalty for FGM was imprisonment for a period of no less than 5 years and not exceeding 7 years, according to the amendment made in 2016. The punishment before 2016 was imprisonment for a period of not less than three months and not exceeding two years, or a fine of not less than one thousand pounds and not exceeding 5,000 pounds (EP). EuroMed Feminist Initiative welcomes this decision and at the same time reiterates the words of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet: “Evidence shows that the certainty of punishment, rather than its severity, deters crime.”   Combating FGM was identified among the national priorities in Egypt under the regional campaign on Zero Tolerance for VAWG (2019-2021), implemented by EuroMed Feminist Initiative in consortium with 9 member and partners organizations from the South Mediterranean and supported by the European Union.