Criticism over Australian doctors support for female circumcision

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Female circumcision has been illegal in Australia since the 1990s. [stock.xchng: Vivek Chugh]

Last Updated: Fri, 28 May 2010 17:46:00 +1000

Human rights groups have come out against a proposal by the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gyneocologists to support a form of female circumcision.

The college is considering supporting a less extreme version known as a 'ritual nick'.

Female circumcision is illegal in Australia but the secretary of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gyneocologists, Dr Gino Pecoraro says he's worried the practice is being done overseas with much worse consequences.

"No one is condoning the practice, no one is trying to legitimise the practice, it's trying to look at a way to minimise the harm," he said.

But Victoria's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke says it's still genital mutilation.

"I don't think a compromised surgical procedure is an appropriate response to such a major breach of human rights," he said.

Dr Szoke says education campaigns are a better alternative.