PERTH: More botched circumcisions reported

Perth Now (Australia)
August 22, 2013

Botched circumcisions on the rise

by Kaitlyn Offer

MORE Perth men are seeking legal advice for botched cosmetic circumcisions, according to one Perth law firm.

Medical law specialist Karina Hafford from Slater and Gordon said so far this year about six men, almost one a month, had come to her for legal advice over male circumcisions gone wrong.

The lawyer of 15 years said it was worrying to see the men looking for help as she had never had an inquiry over male circumcision before. [Perhaps men are becoming more critical as the issue is raised on the Internet.]

“I had never seen these types of issues until this year when I've had a handful of inquiries in as many months,” Ms Hafford said.

She said the jump in inquiries was particularly related to overseas, cosmetic procedures, done in Europe and Asia.

“My advice would be to avoid overseas surgeries – many country’s health industries are not regulated as carefully as Australia,” Ms Hafford said.

“We’ve all seen horror stories in the media about ‘cosmetic tourism’ gone wrong.”

Ms Hafford said there were several reasons why a man might opt for a cosmetic circumcision.

“Men may choose this surgery for health reasons, such as infected piercings, bladder problems, cosmetic appearance, religious reasons, or to fix their original procedure as a child,” Ms Hafford said.

“No matter what the reason, it can be a very complex and emotive health issue for men and they need to be careful when they choose their surgeon.”

WA Department of Health chief medical officer Gary Geelhoed said he was not aware of a rise in the number of cosmetic circumcision procedures being done and it was not performed in the WA public health system except for medical reasons.

“Male circumcision is not generally recommended,” he said.

“Although it is a minor operation, like any surgery it has risks including infection.”

Ms Hafford said men should carefully check their surgeon's credentials and history of investigations or complaints before going ahead with a circumcision.

...

PERTH: "Keep talking about female cutting"

WA News
July 9, 2013

Genital mutilation talk 'deterrent'

by Aleisha Orr

The first female genital mutilation case believed to have made it to court in Western Australia may have fallen through but a researcher with expertise in the field says the issue needs to remain in community discussions to act as a deterrent to others.

Curtin University researcher Anne Aly said the fact that charges were initially laid in relation to the matter sent "a very powerful and strong message" to those who may be considering organising the procedure.

A northern suburbs mother and father were alleged to have organised the illegal circumcision of their baby girl in Bali and were arrested at Perth Airport in August 2012.

Their identities were suppressed throughout the matter.

Prosecutors dropped the charges on the grounds that there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

The lawyer of the couple who had the charges against them dropped, Hylton Quail told media outside the court on the couple's last appearance "there was never any offence, there was never any medical evidence to support the charge in the first place."

Dr Aly said the dropping of the case did worry her, that the only way for a case to be proven would be once the procedure had already gone ahead.

"How do you prove intention and get enough evidence," she said.

"It unintentionally says you have to go through with the process to prove intention.

"It certainly is a test case for the law."

Dr Aly said rather than sending the message; "don't do it, it is illegal" the focus should be more on the health and welfare of children.

"You have to put children's welfare first, that's a much better deterrent," she said.

Dr Aly said education needed to be a continuous process as the practice was most prevalent within those who had moved here from other countries where it was done as a cultural practice.

"As more migrants and asylum seekers come in they need to be aware of the legal implications and health and psychological affects."

In Victoria the practice has "significantly increased" as a result of a rise in migration and refugee settlement according to the state's health minister who is now calling for federal funding to match state funding to cover support and prevention services.

Female circumcision is performed in some cultures and religions, but is illegal in Australia.

It is illegal to perform, arrange or take a child out of the state for such a procedure.

Its occurrence is believed to be underreported in WA.

Earlier story

PERTH: Case dropped against parents for transporting daughter for cutting

Sydney Morning Herald
July 4, 2013

Female circumcision case in WA dropped

Charges against a Perth couple accused of arranging the illegal genital mutilation of their baby daughter have been dropped after prosecutors said there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

The couple aged in their 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were alleged to have taken their one-year-old daughter to Bali last year to have her circumcised.

But in Perth's District Court on Thursday, prosecutors discontinued the case.

Female circumcision is commonly practised in some parts of the world but is illegal in Australia.

Earlier story

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Parents who took daugher to Bali for cutting charged

The West Australian
September 7, 2012

Parents 'arranged female genital mutilation'

By Luke Eliot

The parents of a one-year-old girl have been charged after they allegedly took their child to Bali for a female genital mutilation procedure – believed to be the first case in WA.

Child abuse squad detectives charged the parents – a 44-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman – under Section 306 of the Criminal Code, which makes all procedures involving part or total removal of female genitalia or injuries to the female genital region for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons an offence.

It will be alleged the procedure took place during a holiday in Bali on August 25.

It is understood the couple live in Perth’s northern suburbs and the girl is understood to be in good health.

The Department for Child Protection website warns that being a parent or guardian consenting to the practice is not regarded as a defence and, if convicted, the maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years jail. The penalty for the offence if committed in WA is 20 years.

The World Health Organisation website says about 140 million girls and women are living with the consequences of female genital mutilation, which offers no health benefits.

WHO regards the practice as a violation of human rights which is motivated by beliefs about “proper sexual behaviour” including premarital virginity and marital fidelity.

It is also associate with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty including the notion girls are “clean” after the removal of body parts considered “male” or “unclean”.

The northern suburbs couple have been summonsed to appear in the Joondalup Magistrate’s Court on October 4.