Communications Director, Connecticut Hospital Association
110 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT
rall@chime.org, 203-265-7611
The Register Citizen – Tuesday, February 4, 2025
By Susan Bysiewicz and John A. Kissel
As the lieutenant governor of Connecticut and the Senate ranking member of Judiciary, we sincerely urge the legislature to ban female genital mutilation and/or cutting (FGM/C) this legislative session. We are deeply committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of women and girls in our state. It is with this responsibility, that we call on the state legislature to take decisive action against FGM/C by finally enacting a state law to explicitly ban these practices.
FGM/C is a practice rooted in gender-based violence, cultural coercion, and misinformation. It involves the cutting or removal of parts of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, leading to lifelong physical and psychological consequences. The World Health Organization has classified FGM/C as a violation of human rights, a form of gender inequality, and a form of torture.
Despite FGM/C being illegal under federal law, no case has ever been successfully prosecuted in the United States since the federal law’s adoption. Passing a state law in Connecticut would enhance local law enforcement’s ability to prosecute perpetrators, respond to and support survivors, and implement education and outreach programs to prevent this harmful practice.
Connecticut is one of only nine states nationally, and the only one in the Northeast, without a specific law banning FGM/C. This leaves Connecticut in a vulnerable position to become a safe haven, or even destination, for the practice. With more than 2,600 women and girls at risk or survivors of FGM/C, Connecticut must join other states in banning this horrific practice. We find ourselves in the same situation that we did in 2023 when we banned child marriage.
For the past several years, legislation banning FGM/C has been proposed in Connecticut. We’ve heard from survivors who have told their deeply personal stories and have testified. We know that this practice continues — we have heard women of different backgrounds, ages, and socioeconomic status bravely share their stories. Passing this legislation would solidify Connecticut’s commitments in protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. We would be joining 41 other states that have already taken this crucial step to protect young girls from FGM/C.
Connecticut prides itself on being a state that champions equality and human rights. But as long as these harmful practices remain unaddressed in our state law, we fall short of those values. This is an opportunity for us to do better — to send a clear message that our state stands unequivocally for the safety, dignity, and rights of women and girls.
We urge legislators to join us in this effort. Let’s pass legislation to ban Female Genital Mutilation in Connecticut. Let’s lead with compassion, conviction, and courage. And let’s ensure that every child in our state is protected from harm, respected in their autonomy, and given the chance to thrive.