Denmark has long been a pioneer of socially liberal reforms.

It was the first country in the world to legalise pornography and same sex marriage and now it's inching closer to becoming the first country to ban the circumcision of boys.

It comes after a citizens' petition to outlaw circumcising boys under the age of 18 reached 50,000 signatures.

That means the Danish Parliament is required under law to vote on the measure, forcing politicians to choose between the rights of the parent and the rights of the child.

