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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-13 Daily Xml
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FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question relating to female genital mutilation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: It is estimated that 130 million women around the world are being subjected to female genital mutilation. The effects of this procedure often include kidney and bladder infections, birthing problems and infertility. In South Australia, the practice of female genital mutilation is a child protection matter under the Child Protection Act 1993 and a criminal offence under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935.

On 23 September, The Advertiser published an article entitled 'Child genital mutilation seen as illegal torture'. The article refers to a UniSA report which found that a number of Families SA child abuse workers identified female genital mutilation as requiring sensitive responses from Families SA when dealing with these issues. The report states:

While some staff see that (mutilation) as very wrong, we need to be very sensitive how we deal with that issue.

Professor Briggs is quoted as saying:

This attitude is unacceptable. This is an offence under Australian law and they should throw the book at them—there is no shade of grey in it.'

The article concludes with a quote from a ministerial spokesperson who states that the views were those of individuals, not necessarily the department. In saying the view is not necessarily the view of the department, the government is being equivocal as to whether the department even sees the practice as being morally wrong, let alone legally prohibited. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will the government make an unequivocal statement that it will enforce the laws of this state against female genital mutilation?

2. What is the government doing to ensure that relevant cultural communities are aware that female genital mutilation is not legal in South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:43): I thank the member for his most important question. Indeed, female genital mutilation is an abhorrent practice that is quite complex in relation to the cultural and sometimes religious sensitivities around some of these practices.

Nevertheless, it is predominantly a health issue and also human rights issue, and these matters are dealt with by the Minister for Families and Communities and also the Minister for Health, who are largely responsible for the policy formulation in relation to this issue. It is a matter in which I obviously have an interest and concern—as has any responsible human being. I am certainly willing to work with any agency or body to assist in eliminating these abhorrent practices.

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