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Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation

Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes. This paper is not professional legal opinion.
Briefing Paper No. 03/1994 by Sharon Rose

​The issue of female genital mutilation is once more receiving attention in the media. This is due to a number of factors including the recent release of a Family Law Council Discussion Paper "Female Genital Mutilation". The Australian Medical Association and the New South Wales Opposition have also recently made statements in relation to female genital mutilation, with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Andrew Refshauge, M.P. announcing the Opposition would introduce legislation in the forthcoming session of Parliament to outlaw the practice. 

In this context, and in view of the increasing number of media stories concerning female genital mutilation, this Briefing Note attempts to provide factual information concerning female genital mutilation and the main issues raised and conclusions reached in the Family Law Council Discussion Paper.

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.