What’s Current: Trans activists attempt to block Wyoming bill to ban female genital mutilation

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  • A Wyoming bill* that would have banned female genital mutilation was opposed by trans activists on the grounds that the bill would outlaw sex reassignment surgery on minors. The Post Millennial reports: 

“In addition to the criminal provisions, the bill would have allowed victims to bring civil claims against their mutilators for years after the commission of the crime. It would also have instigated a state-wide education campaign. All of these are now shelved indefinitely, leaving an estimated 400-600 girls in Wyoming unprotected by law, and without a remedy.”

  • The Sun newspaper is facing backlash from charities and the UK’s lead advisor on domestic abuse for publishing a front page interview with JK Rowling’s ex-husband headlined: “I slapped JK and I’m not sorry.”
  • Women in Switzerland demand better protection against sexual violence, launching a national appeal for a “modern sexual criminal law.” According to Green Party Senate member Lisa Mazzone:

“The current law is a relic from a time that we want to leave behind. Sexual acts against the will of the victim must be recognised as a serious crime – even if there was no coercion.”

  • The governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have declared a state of emergency on rape following a recent spike in violence against women.
  • City News reports Toronto police charged an officer and nine other men in an underage human trafficking investigation.

*This bill has now passed the Wyoming legislature and will be enacted July 1, 2020.

Meghan McCarty

Meghan McCarty is an undergraduate student and aspiring journalist living in the United States.