Dutch Declaration Against Female Circumcision

March 3 2011

A joint declaration stating explicitly that female circumcision is against the law in the Netherlands has been presented by Dutch ministries, migrant organizations and health authorities. The intent of the declaration is that those under pressure to circumcise their daughters can use the document as ‘proof’ against the procedure. Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports that most circumcisions occur among women in African countries, and that sometimes the practice is linked to Islam and faith, and sometimes a ‘cultural practice’. Because the practice is banned in the Netherlands, some girls are circumcised “during holidays to their country of origin”.

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