Connecticut passes bill to ban female genital mutilation

By AI, Created 9:55 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Connecticut lawmakers unanimously approved Senate Bill 259 on April 28, moving the state toward its first explicit ban on female genital mutilation/cutting. If Gov. Ned Lamont signs the bill, Connecticut will become the 42nd state to outlaw the practice and leave eight states without a specific ban.

Why it matters: - Connecticut has the largest at-risk population in the U.S. without a law explicitly banning female genital mutilation/cutting, with more than 2,500 women and girls in the state estimated to have undergone or be at risk. - The bill adds criminal and civil protections for survivors and girls at risk, closing a legal gap advocates have targeted for years. - If signed, Connecticut will become the 42nd state to ban FGM/C. - Eight states would still have no law explicitly banning FGM/C: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico.

What happened: - Connecticut lawmakers voted unanimously on Tuesday, April 28, to pass Senate Bill 259. - The bill now goes to Gov. Ned Lamont for signature. - Democratic State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest introduced the bill in February 2026. - The Connecticut State Senate unanimously passed the bill last week before the measure cleared the full legislature. - A press conference at the State Capitol in Hartford on April 27 called on lawmakers to advance the bill, with an art installation honoring women and girls affected by FGM/C.

The details: - Bill 259 creates the crime of female genital mutilation in Connecticut. - The bill allows testimony outside the courtroom for victims age 12 or younger. - The bill prevents a victim from being automatically deemed incompetent to testify because of age. - The bill waives parent-child immunity in FGM/C cases and allows legal representatives to secure necessary parental testimony. - The bill authorizes civil action by a victim and allows civil actions within 30 years after the victim turns 18. - Connecticut legislators had made six unsuccessful attempts to pass similar legislation before this vote. - Proposed bills in 2018, 2020 and 2021 did not get past committee. - A 2019 bill was rejected by the State Senate. - A drafted 2024 bill was never introduced. - A 2025 bill never reached the House floor for a vote. - The Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C backed the measure, along with Equality Now, the U.S. End FGM/C Network, Sahiyo, the Connecticut Children’s Alliance and the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. - Equality Now said the passage followed six years of campaigning by survivors, advocates and civil society organizations. - Survivor advocate Zehra Patwa said the vote was deeply personal and reflected years of pain, resilience and hope. - Mariya Taher, co-founder of Sahiyo, said the passage reflected persistence, resiliency and mutual respect among advocates.

Between the lines: - The unanimous vote signals broad bipartisan support for a long-stalled public health and human rights measure. - Advocates have framed the bill as both a criminal justice tool and a survivor-access measure, not just a symbolic ban. - Nationally, Connecticut’s move adds pressure on the eight remaining states without explicit FGM/C bans. - The measure also comes as human rights groups push governments to strengthen prevention, survivor support and enforcement. - Federal law already prohibits FGM/C under the STOP FGM Act, but advocates say state-level enforcement remains essential because local agencies can respond more directly in communities.

What’s next: - Gov. Ned Lamont must sign the bill before it becomes law. - If signed, Connecticut law would align more closely with international human rights standards. - Advocates are likely to keep pressing the remaining states without explicit bans to act next. - The bill’s civil and criminal provisions would then take effect under Connecticut law.The bottom line: - Connecticut is poised to become the 42nd state with an explicit FGM/C ban, turning years of advocacy into enforceable protections for survivors and girls at risk.

The full report US factsheet