MPs seek ban on mutilation

A group of MPs, featuring women from almost every political party, has banded together in a bid to tighten up New Zealand’s laws on female genital mutilation.

The practice is illegal in New Zealand but the law has some loopholes, which a new bill aims to close. Women within communities affected by female genital mutilation have been pushing for the law to be updated.

The MPs said their bill would respond to that call.

The MPs are Jo Hayes from National, Priyanca Radhakrishnan from Labour, Golriz Ghahraman from the Greens and Jenny Marcroft from NZ First.

They are working together as part of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians New Zealand Group.

Their joint member’s bill would outlaw female genital mutilation in all circumstances.

Ghahraman said the bill would update New Zealand’s legislation.

‘‘The Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill is intended to update the definition of female genital mutilation in the New Zealand Crimes Act, to align with standard World Health Organisation classifications of types of female genital mutilation and international best practice recommendations,’’

‘‘No form of female genital mutilation is acceptable.’’ Green MP Golriz Ghahraman

Ghahraman said.

‘‘It signals that no form of female genital mutilation is acceptable, as it is an abuse of girls and women,’’ she said.

Ghahraman paid tribute to the women who had raised the issue with their MPs.

‘‘This bill is a testament to the staunch and persistent advocacy by women in affected communities in Aotearoa, which as women Parliamentarians we have listened to and are proud to bring into law,’’ she said.

It is the first time in history that a private member’s bill will be sponsored by more than one MP, taking advantage of a new rule that will mean the bill is guaranteed to be debated.

Member’s bills are a way for MPs who do not belong to the Government to have their own ideas for new laws debated.

But the time set for debating these bills is strictly limited and only a select few are chosen to be debated. This is done by randomly drawing ballots from a biscuit tin. But this cross-party group will skip the ballot and go straight to being debated. This means the bill is likely to get its first reading before Christmas.