OTTAWA, Canada, 04 May 2020 / PRN Africa / -- The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement on the decision to ban female genital mutilation in Sudan:

“Canada welcomes the Sudanese government's decision to ban female genital mutilation (FGM), and hopes that the draft law will enjoy swift ratification. We echo the Sudanese Foreign Ministry's statement that female genital mutilation is a ‘clear violation against women and a crime against women's rights,' and we commend the Sudanese government for taking this momentous step.

“We note that this draft law is only the latest of a number of reforms proposed or enacted by the transitional government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to promote human rights. We applaud the Government of Sudan for putting the rights of women at the centre of their reform agenda.

“Canada is committed to supporting efforts towards ending FGM worldwide, including through our important relationships with women's rights organizations and advocates.

SOURCE Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada