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New York · Through 2026-09-11

N.Y. Penal Law § 130.85: Female genital mutilation

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Penal Law
  2. Part 3. Specific Offenses
  3. Title H. Offenses Against the Person Involving Physical Injury, Sexual Conduct, Restraint and Intimidation
  4. Article 130. Sex Offenses

§ 130.85 Female genital mutilation.

1. A person is guilty of female genital mutilation when:

(a) a person knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates the whole

or any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of another

person who has not reached eighteen years of age; or

(b) being a parent, guardian or other person legally responsible and

charged with the care or custody of a child less than eighteen years

old, he or she knowingly consents to the circumcision, excision or

infibulation of whole or part of such child's labia majora or labia

minora or clitoris.

2. Such circumcision, excision, or infibulation is not a violation of

this section if such act is:

(a) necessary to the health of the person on whom it is performed, and

is performed by a person licensed in the place of its performance as a

medical practitioner; or

(b) performed on a person in labor or who has just given birth and is

performed for medical purposes connected with that labor or birth by a

person licensed in the place it is performed as a medical practitioner,

midwife, or person in training to become such a practitioner or midwife.

3. For the purposes of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this

section, no account shall be taken of the effect on the person on whom

such procedure is to be performed of any belief on the part of that or

any other person that such procedure is required as a matter of custom

or ritual.

Female genital mutilation is a class E felony.

Collected 2026-09-14T19:32:45Z. Source file · JSON

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