1. The Australian Medical Association condemns the practice of any form of female genital mutilation.

2. The AMA rejects the euphemism "female circumcision", sometimes used to describe the various forms of female genital mutilation, because the use of this phrase trivialises the severe and often irreparable physical and psychological damage occasioned to girls and women by these practices.

3. Notwithstanding its long-established cultural origins in some societies, female genital mutilation in its various forms constitutes violence against women under international law United Nations General Assembly Declaration "Violence against Women" (December 1993).

4. The AMA considers that the basis of any program intended to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation should be the education of those cultural or ethnic groups who practise it, of all health professionals and of the general community.

5. The AMA recommends specific federal legislation to proscribe the practice of female genital mutilation and to impose criminal penalties on practitioners of female genital mutilation and on persons who seek to arrange it for females in their care. The legislation should not preclude medical or surgical procedures which are necessary for the treatment of pathological conditions.

6. The AMA regards any medical practitioner who engages in, encourages or condones the practice of any form of female genital mutilation as guilty of professional misconduct and recommends to the State and Territory Medical Boards that they regard the practice of female genital mutilation in that light.

7. It should be a criminal offence to remove a child from Australia, or to assist, whether overtly or tacitly, in such a removal, for the purpose of submitting her to any form of female genital mutilation overseas.

8. The AMA considers that counselling of the woman's family is a necessary component in assuring the well-being of any woman who has suffered female genital mutilation in the past and/or who may be involved in decisions regarding this practice. All possible medical care and support should be offered to victims of female genital mutilation.

9. The AMA considers that international medical bodies, legislators, judiciary and police should co-operate in eradicating the practice of female genital mutilation world-wide.