As a veteran educator and Judeo-Christian, I am pleading to Pariliament Hill to pass laws making it illegal for someone to carry out Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) on girls.

I do not want this great nation to be a destination for FGM/C. As FGM/C is nearly always carried out on minors, is a violation of the rights of children, and reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes that constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women, we must protect girls from undergoing FGM/C.

I believe in the importance of education and community engagement to help create social change within communities and amongst groups where FGM/C might be happening. To that end, we each have organized and participated in community events to educate our friends and family members about the harms of FGM/C and why it should be abandoned. Yet, despite our efforts, FGM/C continues, often being touted as a religious or cultural practice that is needed to control women’s sexuality.

Despite many laws elsewhere, Canadian laws have yet to be critical tools in preventing FGM/C. Specific anti-FGM/C laws send a strong message that the practice is not acceptable. We know anecdotally that families on the fence or resisting having their daughters undergo the procedure, but facing pressure from family or community members to do so, use existing laws as the reason for why they will not cut their daughters. In addition, provincial laws fill gaps left by federal laws.

Comprehensive legislation provides education and outreach on FGM/C to local communities and professionals likely to encounter cases, bans taking a girl outside of the province to undergo FGM/C, and gives survivors the opportunity to stand up for themselves in a court of law. A federal law gives prosecutors more leeway in the event the provincial Justice can’t/won’t prosecute.

We need a bill in Canada that unequivocally reiterates that female genital mutilation/cutting is a form of violence. There are laws against domestic violence and sexual assault and abuse. We need a law against FGM/C as well.

Parliament can do a better job of protecting girls by banning FGM/C

Sign my petition to support women in demanding that legislators pass a bill to make Ontario the first province to ban FGM/C. Let’s work together to take a stance against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting!

As a father of two beautiful daughters, I shudder to think of Muslim men having their way with Canadian women. Lets not make life easier for these creeps. Do not underestimate muslim men, as many of them are sexual predators. I've met with my fair share at my place of work and I have dealt with them swiftly. Whether they're in Canada or abroad, I will shut them down and prevent them from hurting girls.

I will do anything to protect the women in my life and you should too!