Australia aims to eliminate female genital mutilation

The Australian government has announced a suite of measures aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation, a practice that it has described as “barbaric” and “horrific.”

A joint statement by the prime minister, Julia Gillard, and the health minister, Tanya Plibersek, said that a national summit involving health, legal, and policing experts would be held early next year to raise awareness of the issue.1

The government also announced funding of $A0.5m (£0.3m; €0.4m; $US0.5m) for community awareness and education activities and said that new research and data collection on female genital mutilation would be a priority.

In addition, the attorney general will review current laws to assess whether …