Egypt's parliament approves tougher penalties for FGM

Female Genital Mutilation involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, according to the United Nations. /VCG

Egypt's Parliament – the House of Representatives – on Sunday approved tougher penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM) in efforts to clamp down on the practice, state-owned Al Ahram newspaper reports.

The new amendments stipulate prison sentences of up to seven years for non-medical individuals involved in performing the practice if it leads to permanent disability, and up to ten years if it leads to death.

Medical professionals who perform genital mutilation could face between 10 and 15 years in prison, according to the amendment.

In addition to the prison sentences, medical practitioners convicted of performing FGM will also be stripped of their licenses for five years.

The amendments also stipulate jail sentences for other persons promoting the practice, even if the procedure takes place in their absence.

FGM involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, according to the United Nations. It is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15.

According to the agency, girls who undergo FGM face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.