Leela Sharon Aheer, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Bill 10

Alberta government strengthening laws banning female genital mutilation

Mar 24, 2022 | 4:08 PM

To better protect the health and safety of women and girls, Alberta’s government has announced steps to strengthen existing laws that ban female genital mutilation in the province.

If passed, Bill 10, the Health Professions (Protecting Women and Girls) Amendment Act, 2022 would mean health professionals who perform or facilitate female genital mutilation (FGM) or cutting would be removed from practising medicine, if convicted. Government officials say health professionals convicted of this crime in another jurisdiction would not be allowed to practise in Alberta. Additionally, reporting conduct related to FGM to law enforcement would be mandatory.

“Female genital mutilation and cutting violate the human rights of women and girls around the world and can cause lifelong health problems,” says Leela Sharon Aheer, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore. “The coercive control of physical and psychological violence because of sex and gender must be eradicated. I’m proud this government is taking a stand to support survivors and ensure no women or girl will ever undergo this debilitating practice in Alberta.”

“This is the first jurisdiction to introduce professional legislation that speaks directly to the issue of FGM,” Aheer added.

The proposed amendments would also require health profession regulatory colleges to adopt standards of practice related to FGM.

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“These amendments to the Health Professions Act show that the horrific practice of female genital mutilation and cutting will not be tolerated in this province,” says Whitney Issik, associate minister of status of women. “Better protections for women’s health means that more Albertans will live free from the fear of experiencing this trauma. If passed, this bill will further strengthen the Alberta’s government’s commitment to action to end sexual violence across the province.”

“Alberta’s health system should protect young women and girls from this illegal and totally unacceptable practice,” shares Jason Copping, minister of health. “These changes make it even more clear that any health professional performing female genital mutilation or cutting will never practise in Alberta again.”

Quick facts

• FGM, as defined in the Health Professions Act, would include all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is sometimes called female circumcision.
• Female genital mutilation is included as aggravated assault in the Criminal Code of Canada.
• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation or cutting in 30 countries.
• More than three million girls are estimated to be at risk for female genital mutilation annually.