PARLIAMENTARY CAMPAIGN "STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN":
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
| | Legislation and other national provisions: |
| Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique |
Country-specific information on the current state of national legislation dealing directly or indirectly with the issue of female genital mutulation reproduces the contents of the official communications received to date from national parliaments. Other reliable information, contained in the documents published by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, is also taken into consideration. Whenever necessary, it is specified that the IPU has not received any official information directly.
 Click here for information about other countries
| MADAGASCAR |
- Current status: Female genital mutilation is reportedly not practised in Madagascar. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MALAWI |
- Current status: Female genital mutilation is reportedly not practised in Malawi. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: There is no legislation on female genital mutilation as yet in Malawi.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MALAYSIA |
- Current status: Malaysia does not have any problems regarding female genital mutilation.
- Legislation: It does not have any laws on female genital mutilation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MALI |
- Current status: A 1995/96 national demographic and health survey indicates an overall prevalence of 94%. FGM is reportedly practised throughout Mali, except for the regions of Gao and Timbuktu. Circumcision and excision are predominant: 52% and 47% respectively; infibulation respresents less than 1%. There are no significant differences in prevalence between women from rural areas and those from urban areas, or between women with no education or primary education (94%) and those with secondary education (90%). FGM is practised by all ethnic groups, ranging from 85% among Christians to 94% among Muslims, and across all ethnic groups. The two groups with lower prevalence are the Tamacheck (16%) and the Sonrai (48%), both of which reside mainly in the region of Gao and Timbuktu. However, the IPU has no first-hand official statistics or other details on this subject.
- Legislation: Article 166 of the Penal Code prohibits voluntarily cutting or injuring a person as well as committing any violence on a person. Article 171 states that any person who administers willingly any procedure or substance to an individual without consent and causes an illness or disability is punishable by six months’ to 3 years’ imprisonment.
However, Parliament has not yet forwarded the references and text of the law to the IPU.
- Operational structure: National Action Committee established in 1996. This body enjoys the backing of NGOs and also operates in the provinces.
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| MAURITANIA |
- Current status: The Ministry of Health has estimated the prevalence of excision and circumcision at between 20% and 25%. A Government report shows that 92% of women in the Soninke ethnic group and 95.5% of the Halpulaar ethnic group have undergone genital mutilation. Rates of FGM among other ethnic groups are between 27% and 72%, the study by the National Statistics Office found. No official campaign has yet been launched against the practice of excision or circumcision in Mauritania, but it is becoming less common in urban areas and is discouraged in some medical circles. Symbolic excision is also reportedly practised, using a gum Arabic plant-based product mixture to shrink the clitoris. However, the IPU has no first-hand official statistics or other details on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation. The practice is reportedly banned in hospitals.
- Operational structure: An Action Committee was set up by the Government in June 1997.
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| MAURITIUS |
- Current status: Female genital mutilation is reportedly not practised in Mauritius. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MEXICO |
- Current status: It is reported that introcision has been practised in eastern Mexico. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MOROCCO |
- Current status: Female genital mutilation is reportedly not practised in Morocco. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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| MOZAMBIQUE |
- Current status: Female genital mutilation is reportedly not practised in Mozambique. However, the IPU has no first-hand official information on this subject.
- Legislation: The IPU has no information on the existence of specific legislation.
- Operational structure: not applicable.
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Female genital mutilation: table of contents