[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. Res. 263 Agreed to Senate (ATS)] 103d CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 263 To express the sense of the Senate condemning the cruel and tortuous practice of female genital mutilation. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 21 (legislative day, September 12), 1994 Mr. Reid submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations September 27 (legislative day, September 12), 1994 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION To express the sense of the Senate condemning the cruel and tortuous practice of female genital mutilation. Whereas the Senate recognizes the importance of traditions and ritual rites of passage in the cultures of all nations; Whereas such traditions and rites should not impede or violate the human rights of any person; Whereas the practice of female genital mutilation of girls and young women under the age of 18 represents an act of cruelty and a basic violation of a person's human rights; Whereas the aftereffects of female genital mutilation include shock, infection, psychological scarring, hemorrhaging, and death; Whereas the practice of female genital mutilation represents a threat to the health of girls and young women who undergo the procedure; and Whereas the Government of Egypt should be commended for the recent arrest and detention of 2 men who performed circumcision on a 10-year-old girl while she was bound and arranged for the filming of the tortuous procedure for the Cable News Network: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the practice of female genital mutilation of girls and young women under the age of 18 by any nation or individual is condemned, and that the Government of Egypt and that all other governments that aggressively and appropriately decry, prevent, and deter this practice through education and other means be, and they hereby are, commended by the United States Senate. <all>