<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87497</law_id><section_number>18.2-51.7</section_number><catch_line>Female genital mutilation; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>53.1-202.3</reference><reference>53.1-40.02</reference><reference>8.01-42.5</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Assaults and Bodily Woundings</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates, in whole or in any part, the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of another person who has not attained the age of 18 years is guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-313231" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-51.7/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who consents to the circumcision, excision, or infibulation, in whole or in any part, of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of such <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-313232" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-51.7/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who knowingly removes or causes or permits the removal of such <span class="dictionary">minor</span> from the Commonwealth for the purposes of committing an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under subsection A is guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-313233" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-51.7/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A surgical operation is not a violation of this section if the operation is (i) 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 (ii) performed on a person in labor 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. <a id="paragraph-313234" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-51.7/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. The provisions of this section shall not preclude <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> under any other <span class="dictionary">statute</span>. <a id="paragraph-313235" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-51.7/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2017, c. 667; 2018, c. 549.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
