Belly,
Yes and I recall that the hardest to get blackberries were the sweetest. What is a few scratches anyway.

I am all for gender equallity in most things, except for frontline troops. Not only do I fear for the girls, but male instinct is to protect females in our culture, so some of our blokes may well put themselves at increased risk to look after their female mates. Police I know say the same thing in their job.

It is our apathy that is leading to the demise of our culture and I strongly object to ignoring alien aspects of some cultures. What happens in other countries is their business but here we need to stand up for our hard won social standards.

Politicians ignore FGM and forced marriages, etc. because we do not raise a stink and they rightly believe there is no votes in pursuing them.

We can bear a few scratches.

Banjo it was such as us who filled the front lines and will again be.
And the first to be cast off at the end.
But my fears and concerns come from an understanding, some in about 1930 tried to warn and found them selves ignored even insulted.
While not directly related, while maybe a case of police murder.
A story in this days Sydney morning herald, shows dress more suited to the middle east than here.
And I am forced to wounder again.
If I am free, to say, is freedom of religion for those who do not believe too?
Why change any culture for a myth?
I Banjo, could die for saying that,yes I could, love multi culturism? not todays blindness hiding under its name,no.

Banjo,

Strangely enough -- in the light of some recent court decisions-- one might be in more danger of prosecution from commenting on FGM than from practising it.

<<FGM is so politically and culturally sensitive that even the terminology used to talk about it is fraught.

RANZCOG recommends that the terms "female circumcision" be used when dealing with local communities.

Western countries, including Australia, tend to use the term FGM, but the reference to "mutilation" can be offensive to communities where the practice is not only accepted but considered sacred and aesthetically pleasing>>

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/30/1067233290466.html?from=storyrhs

SPQR,
That article was from 2003, and even then was outdated.

Yes Auburn hospital has an FGM unit as does Canterbury hospital. The RMWH in Melbourne apparently treats the most post FGM patients. Other hospitals treat FGM patients from time to time, but am not sure if any have specialist units.

There is no doubt that FGM is carried out here. Sometimes the medicos treat fresh wounds in young girls, that were born here and have never been overseas. Some are treated for bleeding, shock and infection. I do wonder how long before the public is aware of a death from FGM. We apparently now have instances where females that had FGM done to them as young girls here, are now having their own daughters done. So the educatiob aspect is not working. I am not surprised that the educators support further education as it is their job, but we are getting little benefit from it.

It is past time we prosecuted the parents for abuse of these little girls. For 17 years it has been against the law and to date not one prosecution.

It amazes me that we regularly prosecute people in relation to holding cockfights, which is a cultural activity, but not in relation to the mutilation of little girls. Nor in forcing girls to marry against their will.

Banjo,
<< It amazes me that we regularly prosecute people in relation to holding cockfights...but not in relation to the mutilation of little girls. Nor in forcing girls to marry against their will>>

Maybe you should not be so amazed --see here:

"I have seen such differences, however, when police are asked to intervene in domestic violence cases where ethnic groups such as South Asian or Middle Eastern couples are involved. Police often keep greater distance in such cases, some believing that cultural factors are at play and the families and communities should be left to their own devices. We do not officially have parallel laws for other groups, but variable enforcement can have the same effect."

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/dare-to-accept-we-are-different-20110923-1kp91.html

Belly and Lexi,
Today I made effort to update my information relating to forced marriages and in doing so I found there is no specific laws relating to forced marriage, that is why the courts used other various laws to prevent these young girls from being taken out of Australia.

So Lexi, I may have jumped the gun on that.

Also should inform you that the Fed government has released a discussion paper about the issue. Too late to make submissions, however you may find it interesting. See link below

If the government does indeed act on this matter, I will have something to praise them for, which will be a change. Lexi, I have written to Pru Goward about publicity aimed at young people for help on the matter.

http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(9A5D88DBA63D32A661E6369859739356)~Discussion+Paper+for+Public+Release+-+forced+and+servile+marriage.pdf/$file/Discussion+Paper+for+Public+Release+-+forced+and+servile+marriage.pdf