Hayes JoanneCRIMES (DEFINITION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingJO HAYES (National): I move That the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Health Committee to consider the bill.Today signifies a historic moment in this the House of Representatives. For the first time we—the women members of Parliament from across four parties—bring the first multi-member bill in the name of myself for National Priyanca Radhakrishnan for Labour Golriz Ghahraman for the Greens and Jenny Marcroft for New Zealand First. The Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill is the result of a number of years' worth of work and I want to acknowledge the Human Rights Commission the Ethnic Minority Women's Rights Alliance of Aotearoa (EMWRAA) the FGM Education Programme members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and most importantly the strong migrant women whose voices have been heard here today in the House.Today also marks one of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence where we in Parliament stand up against violence against women worldwide and where we empower survivors and continue to give women and girls a voice.Over 200 million women and girls are victims of female genital mutilation (FGM). It is an extreme form of both physical and mental violence and it is a lifelong sentence for them. Many women and their unborn children die needlessly at childbirth due to the severe complications caused by FGM.So what does the bill do? Firstly it updates the definition of female genital mutilation in the Crimes Act 1961 for the following purposes: to uphold New Zealand's obligations to protect women and children as outlined in the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It brings New Zealand in line with international best practice it ensures the Act is relevant and fit for purpose and as I have said it amends the definition of female genital mutilation in section 204A of the Crimes Act 1961.Female genital mutilation has been defined as (a) means the excision infibulation or mutilation of the whole or part of the external female genitalia of any person; and a means of (b) includes but is not limited to—(i) the partial or total removal of the clitoris labia majora labia minora or the prepuce or any combination of these: (ii) the narrowing of the vaginal opening by cutting or repositioning the labia majora or the labia minora or both: (iii) other harmful procedures intended to alter the structure or function of the female genitalia such as pricking piercing incising scraping or cauterising" which is described as type four of FGM under the World Health Organization's definition and one that is missing from New Zealand's current FGM definition. This will however change at the Royal assent stage of this bill.By the very definition I have just read out one must wonder why on earth a human being would want to do this to another. It is neither cultural nor tradition. It is cruel and it is abusive and it is not just men that do this to females but women—or I should say some mothers are also perpetrators of this heinous act.In New Zealand FGM was classified as illegal in the 1996 Act through the amendment of the Crimes Act. Today we strengthen that classification because we know it's outdated and needs to be updated. The barbaric practice of FGM is a criminal offence—even if the person had consented to the action—and it is a breach of the human rights of girls and women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person's rights to health; security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel inhumane or degrading treatment; and the right to life when the procedure results in death.Female genital mutilation is a complex and multi-faceted practice deeply rooted in historical cultural social and religious beliefs. It is based on traditional practices in various cultures carried out under the perception that altering a young girl's genitalia makes them more attractive prospects for marriage and in some regions it is considered a necessary part of a girl's social development. We in New Zealand know that FGM is nothing of that sort. It is violent abuse of babies young girls and women and it has no place in our society.We are clear that violence against women and girls is entirely unacceptable and cannot be allowed to hide behind tradition. That is why we women MPs stand united today to eliminate the practice of FGM through the legislative process. I commend the bill to the House."