A former commonwealth sex discrimination commissioner has called for the prosecution of any Australian involved in the circumcision of young girls, saying the procedure is another form of child abuse.



Former commissioner and current state Liberal MP, Pru Goward, called for action following revelations some doctors are considering introducing a controversial form of genital mutilation.



The Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) says the practice of "ritual nicks" could meet the cultural needs of some women and potentially save some people from drastic surgery.



Although illegal in Australia, female circumcision is common among some African, Asian and Middle Eastern communities but has been known to leave some young girls scarred for life when not carried out in proper clinical facilities.



Ms Goward said that instead of softening our approach, authorities should begin prosecuting any family who carries out the procedure on its daughter.



She said she doesn’t believe any Australian doctor currently performs the procedure and there are no known prosecutions of any doctor or parent for carrying out the practice.



"This is child abuse, it doesn’t matter whether it is cultural or not, it is against the law and there is one law for all Australians," she said.



"The law said it is seven years jail and of course it should not be allowed. There is anecdotal evidence that it is occurring, doctors have brought it to me when I was commissioner, they raised to me that there were cases ... and when I said to them why aren’t they reporting them it was because they feel it wouldn’t stand it up in court.



"Doctors are anxious about taking on the family because the family will often just say the 'young girl slipped on some glass'."



Ms Goward said using the "Neville Chamberlain" approach and finding a compromise on the issue would "be unacceptable to most Australians".



She also said public hospitals "need to find some bottle" and report any suspected circumcision cases.



‘‘I think the Federal Government needs to have an education campaign as part of our immigration program, and if you are introducing people from other countries where you know it goes on, you need to let them know it is unlawful and it is not acceptable.’’



RANZCOG secretary Gino Pecoraro said the issue would be discussed at a women’s health meeting in June.



"We will need to start to think about [its introduction] but we would have to speak to community leaders from Australia," he said.



"But we need to make sure we do not legitimise the ritualistic maiming of children."

Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner for the Australian Human Rights Commission said: "I disagree with the suggestion by the RANZCOG that we should, for any reason, entertain a practice of "ritual nicks" in a sterile environment.

Speaking out ... Pru Goward. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

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"In my opinion female genital mutilation or female circumcision, whatever you want to call it, is violence against women, often against children and young women."

- with AAP