Scandinavia leads the way - again!

"We consider circumcision of boys without the child's consent to be in contravention of article 12 of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which gives children the right to have an opinion in matters which concern them." These are the words of the Swedish ombudsman Fredrik Malmberg in response to the growing debate concerning the legality of the circumcision of children. This conclusion is endorsed by the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Swedish Society of Health Professionals, the Swedish Paediatric Society and the Swedish Association of Paediatric Surgeons. This statement was released on September 29th 2013 and has set the standard to which the rest should aspire. Like the UK, all the Scandinavian countries are signed up to the UN convention on the International Rights of a Child. Unlike the UK they are acting accordingly. The cultural protestations have all been heard before but always fail to address the one basic point that the child is being subjected to an assault to which they have not consented. It is hoped that with the Party Conference season(panto) now over, our politicians might actually get back to the serious job for which they are paid handsomely. Do the right thing and stick your head above the parapet. I know I have already written on this subject recently but make no apology for doing so again. If we do nothing as is our unfortunate custom, we are actually condoning assault in a purportedly civilised society. This would be a gross hypocrisy and to paraphrase the nauseating mantra of Milliband "We're better than this!". It is our time to stand up and be counted - anybody can be a signatory. We will define ourselves not by words but by actions.