Chairman Crowley Recognized for Efforts to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation
(Queens, NY) – Today, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) was awarded the Break the Silence Soumou Politician of the Year Award in recognition of his efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation and to support victims living in the United States and overseas.
The There Is No Limit Foundation presented Chairman Crowley with the award during a meeting with Aissata Camara, co-founder of the New York-based non-profit, which is dedicated to ending global poverty, inequality, and injustice.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from the There Is No Limit Foundation, a steadfast ally for victims of female genital mutilation and other marginalized populations,” said Chairman Crowley. “Ending the practice of FGM within a generation is an achievable goal, and I will continue to lead the fight in Congress. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the survivors of FGM who have pioneered this movement – their courage has inspired leaders around the globe to work to end this egregious human rights abuse.”
In the United States alone, more than 500,000 women and girls have experienced, or are at risk of, female genital mutilation. In 2012, the U.S. supported the U.N. resolution banning FGM and called on all countries to develop comprehensive strategies to end the practice by 2030.
Last month, Chairman Crowley requested $25 million in federal funding for efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation in the United States and overseas. In 2015, he introduced The Zero Tolerance for FGM Act with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to implement a national strategy to protect American girls from FGM. Chairman Crowley is also the author of The Girls Protection Act, which would have amended federal law to protect American minors at risk of FGM.
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