Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2023

This District of Columbia bill makes female genital mutilation a criminal offense and allows victims to sue for damages. It defines the practice as any non-medical procedure that removes or injures external female genitalia, such as clitoridectomy or infibulation. The law explicitly states that religious beliefs or parental consent are not valid defenses, though it permits medically necessary procedures and body piercings on consenting adults. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health to create public educational materials about the health risks and reporting obligations, and it extends the statute of limitations for these crimes until the victim turns 18.