By Liz Yore for One News Now
The state of Mississippi proudly boasts that it is “the Hospitality State,” known for its friendly people and welcoming culture. However, child advocates are increasingly concerned that Mississippi is isolated as the lone Southern state not to have a female genital mutilation (FGM) criminal statute – or at least one in the works.
Mississippi is bordered by Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee, which all have strong FGM laws; and its other eastern neighbor, Alabama, expects to pass strong FGM legislation soon. As such, Mississippi – without any FGM criminalization laws – risks the dubious distinction and danger of being a lure for female genital mutilators. The Hospitality State remains a standout in the South without the necessary protections for little girls from the barbaric procedure of FGM.
