Kenya court upholds ban on female genital mutilation

(17 Mar 2021) The High Court of Kenya has upheld a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that Kenya rendered illegal in 2011. The court decision came after Tatu Kamau, a medical professional, challenged the legality of the prohibition of the FGM Act of 2011. However, her efforts to re-legalise the practice was dismissed by the High Court judges who said her petition was "devoid of merit." Kamau expressed her disappointment at the judge's ruling during the online virtual court decision. "I feel that the rights of women have been subsumed in those of a child," said Kamau to the judges. Despite the fact that FGM attracts a fine of 2,000 US dollars and three years imprisonment in Kenya, some communites still value it as a rite of passage. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...