Creating lasting systems change for prevention, healing, and community empowerment. HOPE-MA is building a coordinated statewide system through cross-sector collaboration that establishes survivor-led, culturally sensitive support networks embedded within existing community structures to address female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Our comprehensive approach improves health outcomes for survivors through accessible, trauma-informed care while preventing future cases by shifting societal norms toward bodily autonomy and gender equity. This vision unites healthcare, social services, law enforcement, and community organizations in a cohesive response framework that addresses both immediate needs and long-term systemic change throughout Massachusetts.
Enactment and Timeline | Massachusetts enacted Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2020 in August 2020, creating comprehensive legislation specifically targeting female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C). |
Criminal Penalties | The law criminalizes FGM/C performed on minors, establishing penalties of up to five years in state prison or fines up to $10,000 for perpetrators. |
Transportation Provisions | The same penalties apply to individuals who transport minors for the purpose of FGM/C, addressing cases where the procedure might be performed outside the state. |
Educational and Prevention Programs | The law mandates the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to develop programs that inform communities about the health risks, emotional trauma, and legal consequences associated with FGM/C. |
Civil Remedies for Survivors | The legislation provides survivors with legal recourse, allowing them to pursue civil action against perpetrators to seek compensation for both physical and emotional damages. |
The Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds were created in January 2017 to address inequitable health outcomes and lack of access to resources driven by structural racism in marginalized communities across the Commonwealth. The Funds prioritize work that addresses root causes of health inequities by investing in community-based partners who elevate lived experience to lead approaches toward dismantling structural barriers to health.
Featured Blogs
FGM/C Educational and Prevention Training |
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Resource Development and Customization |
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Policy and Systems Change Consultation |
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