Dear Is Mise,

I lived for nearly 3 years in the Southern Philippines during the seventies. There were quite a number of expats who were keen on marrying Philipino women. However these woman would not have a bar of an uncircumcised male. Of those who underwent the procedure a number expressed a fair degree of regret for having done so. It appears a marked decrease in sensitivity quite unfavourably impacted their enjoyment of the sexual act.

Those of us who have had the procedure done in infancy really have little idea of what we might be missing. If a male wants to be circumcised when they become an adult for religious, aesthetic, comfort or medical reasons I would say go for it. But I don't think others should be making that decision for them.

Since this report two more babies in New York have died from herpes related complications following having their penis sucked after circumcision.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/baby-dies-herpes-virus-ritual-circumcision-nyc-orthodox/story?id=15888618

Why is it that the deeply religious in certain parts of the world find the need to interfere with the genitalia of the prepubescent? I would make any non-medical surgery of minors illegal in a flash.

SteeleRedux,

Strange things happen in the Philipines and elsewhere in East Asia, penile beading was (is) carried out on a do it yourself basis where the male would insert little river pebbles under the skin of the penis to produce an effect akin to modern beading. Unfortunately I cannot at the moment find my Anthrop. notes but this gives a good view of the subject.
http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/e-text/Edwards/Edwards_scans/The%20Penis%20Inserts%20of%20Southeast%20Asia%20%20A%20Bibliography,%20Overview,%20and%20Comparative%20Analysis.pdf

Let me see if I understand this.

FGM is illegal in Australia, am I correct?

So, anyone found practising FGM in Australia will be prosecuted, yes?

Therefore by definition, the practice is not overtly conducted, and can only be discovered in the normal course of events by the offence being reported.

Presumably, when this happens, the law is applied.

So it is a crime very similar to child abuse - and also of course spouse abuse - where for various reasons, some of which are cultural, those affected may not readily come forward and either confess or complain.

In what significant way does FGM differ?

So, Banjo, what is it all about?

>>The simple facts are that the state authorities are turning a blind eye and not applying the laws.<<

I don't think that it is either simple, or indeed a fact. Suspecting that something might be going on in the privacy of someone's life does not indicate a blind eye, nor that laws are not being applied.

>>Firstly identify the 'at risk' girls (daughters of those women that have had FGM). Then carry out say annual medical checks on those girls and, if found to have been victims, prosecute the parents and impose serious penalties.<<

On what grounds can you mandate "annual medical checks". How will you identify your target "at risk" girls anyway - 'the authorities" would need to have access to the medical records of everyone in the country, and exactly who would that "authority" be. And given that one or two might "slip through the net", will you make that "authority" responsible for the outcome?.

Nice dog whistle, though.

may May,
I have absolutely no intention of starting a thread on MGM, but feel free to do so yourself if you desire. I see your attempt to divert this thread.

If you make false claims to hide your true motives, do not attribute your low morals to others. Has it occurred to you that some people simply find FGM abhorrent and it should not happen to little Aussie girls. I notice you did not mention how to decrease the incidence. So your true feelings are that FGM should continue to increase. Yep cultural practice has to be considered before child protection. Your a true multiculturalist.

Is MSE, interesting paper on penis insertions. Hope it does not become fashionable here, however one cannot say as there is plenty of body piersing and tats around.

Steele, good to see you are doing some reading, fancy, you found an article in one European country that suggests FGM will decrease by doing nothing. I doubt it as the practice is so ingrained. The penalties will have to be harsh for that to occur.

The current migrants are informed that FGM and underage marriage is illegal here, before they obtain their visas. They deliberately break our laws.

Banjo wrote this, "Your true feelings are that FGM should continue to increase" AFTER I wrote this, "FGM is a serious mutilation", "Yes, FGM is horrible", "It's a despicable act".

Banjo, on another thread I asked runner if he'd like some personal counseling from a pastor I know. In the same spirit of helping the disadvantaged, I also know a very good and caring English tutor --- would you like her number so you could receive some helpful tuition in how to understand written words? I think you're an old man, so maybe you missed your education during the Great Depression. Times were hard then.

Pericles,
Firstly, yes FGM is illegal in all states and has been for 20 years. Secondly there has not been one prosecution in Aus. There is plenty of antidotal evidence that FGM is occurring here. Some major hospitals have specialist units to deal with post FGM problems. Health and Family planning workers admit that they see victims.

You are wrong, the law is not enforced. It is supposed to be mandatory that medicos report FGM and no action is taken. Either doctors are not reporting FGM or authorities not following up. That is ignoring the matter.

Identifying the 'at risk' girls is simple. The medical records of all women that give birth will note if she has had FGM, it is the daughters of these women that are at risk.