A bill to ban female circumcision in Benin has been submitted by the government to the Supreme Court, the last stage before it comes into effect, the Panafrican News Agency (PANA) reported on Thursday.
The agency reported the minister of social protection and family affairs, Ramatou Baba-Moussa, as saying the bill, which has already gone through the National Assembly, provides for prison sentences of between six months and three years for people engaging in the practice also known as female genital mutilation.
Penalties would also include fines of between 200,000 and 1.5 million francs CFA (between US $279 and $2,093).
Instances in which the practice results in the death of victims would attract up to five years imprisonment and fines of between two million and five million francs CFA (US $2,791 and $6,978), the minister was reported as saying.
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