Female genital mutilation outlawed in United States

The US Congress has passed legislation to outlaw the practice of female genital mutilation.

The law requires federal authorities to inform new immigrants from the countries where the rite is still customary that parents who arrange for their daughters to be cut, as well as those who perform the cutting, face prison sentences of up to five years.

The measure, which comes into effect on 29 March 1997, also requires US representatives to the World Bank and other international financial institutions to oppose aid to countries whose governments have not established educational programmes …