(Winston-Salem Journal) A state Senate bill that would ban female genital mutilation in North Carolina cleared the state legislature Monday.
Senate Bill 9 was filed by state Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, on Jan. 31.
The bill was approved by the Senate by a 46-0 vote March 25 and the House by a 116-0 vote July 16. The Senate agreed Monday to a minor change made by the House by a 45-0 vote.
If signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper, it would go into effect Oct. 1.
The practice is done in parts of India and northern and southern Africa. It’s unclear how many of such procedures are done in North Carolina. It is a criminal offense in 34 states, banned in 59 countries and considered a human-rights violation by the World Health Organization.
