UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Female genital mutilation (FGM), the alteration of female genitalia for nonmedical reasons, is a prevalent worldwide practice currently impacting 200 million women and girls globally. An estimated 3 million girls in the United States and abroad are at risk of being subjected to this practice each year. The United Nations has recognized FGM as a human rights violation, but comprehensive international protections do not exist and domestic protections are limited. While there is a federal law criminalizing FGM, Pennsylvania—along with several other states—do not have protections in place.
Hosted by Dickinson Law’s FGM Legislation Project and featuring experts from Penn State College of Medicine, the AHA Foundation, the International Criminal Court, the Tahirih Justice Center and more, “Crafting Legislative and Medical Solutions to Address Female Genital Mutilation Locally and Internationally” will be held April 12-13, in the Apfelbaum Family Courtroom and Auditorium at Dickinson Law, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The conference will educate the public, lawyers and medical professionals about the legal, social, psychological and medical consequences of FGM. Experts and practitioners will address the medical implications for victims, the need for legislative action, and cultural competencies and prevention. Additionally, victims will speak out against this dangerous human rights violation. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about FGM, participate in important discussions and help develop solutions.
This event is free to attend; registration is required and open through April 9. View the complete agenda and speakers here.
Over the past year, Professor of Law Dermot Groome has supported the work of third-year law students Robert Daniell, Lindsay Daniels, Alexia Tomlinson and Erin Varley in their effort to address the problem of FGM, including the drafting of an international protocol to address this violation, which will be used during the working group session.
This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 4.0 hours of substantive law, practice, and procedure credit and 1.0 hour of ethics, professionalism and substance abuse credit. Attorneys seeking credit in states other than Pennsylvania will receive a uniform certificate of attendance to self-report after the program’s conclusion. Those seeking CLE credit from outside the Dickinson Law community may register for a fee of $45.