Womens’ Health

Commitment to advocate for Women’s Health and Safety

Zonta International invites clubs and members to advocate locally and internationally for womens health by supporting safety, reproductive rights, the banning of female genital mutilation, and an end to period poverty and shaming.

ZontaUSA Priorities for Advocacy for Women’s Health

End Period Poverty
End FGM
Reduce Maternal Mortality S. 408 and H.R. 1350
Response to Sexual Assault S. 119 and H.R. 649

STOP FGM Act Passed in 2020

The Zonta USA Caucus supported the STOP FGM Act of 2020 and asked its advocates to contact their legislators to pass the law. Though the practice was already outlawed in the United States, the language needed to be tightened. On 5 January 2021, it became law; it will empower federal authorities to prosecute people who carry out or conspire to carry out female genital mutilation in the United States and increases the maximum prison sentence from five to 10 years.

Bills on Women’s Health

Reduce Maternal Deaths and Improve Health outcomes The bipartisan Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act (S. 408 and H.R. 1350)

Take Action

What is the prevalence of FGM in the U.S.?

More detailed statistics on FGM are needed. In January 2016, in response to advocacy by Equality Now, Safe Hands for Girls, and other civil society partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study on the number of women and girls in the U.S. who are at risk of or have been subjected to FGM. According to it, the number is estimated to be 513,000, more than three times higher than an earlier estimate based on 1990 data.

FGM State by State

Currently, there is anti-FGM legislation in only 40 states, meaning that 10 STATES HAVE YET TO CRIMINALIZE FGM. The majority of states that do have FGM legislation can strengthen their legislation to further protect the girls in their state –AHA Foundation.

What makes Strong FGM Legislation?

From EndFGMToday Leader Elizabeth Yore,

Here are the elements that strong legislation should include:

“Strong FGM bills include five components,” Yore said.

“These include prosecution for a practitioner, medical or otherwise, who carries out FGM;
prosecution for parents or guardians who allow children to be subjected to FGM;
prosecution for those who aid in facilitating FGM;
provisions against ‘vacation cutting,’ or transporting girls to other countries or states for mutilation purposes; and
provisions for education and outreach purposes.