The New South Wales Minister for Family and Community Services is urging people to report cases of female genital mutilation in their communities after a Sydney man was charged over the crime.
NSW Police this week arrested and charged the man, alleging that in 2012 he organised for his then nine-month-old daughter to be circumcised while overseas.
They say they were alerted six months later when the girl's mother took her to the doctor.
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It's only the second prosecution case in relation to the practice in NSW and believed to be the first time a person has been charged with procuring the procedure abroad.
Minister Pru Goward says although female genital mutilation is illegal in NSW, it's difficult to detect unless people come forward.
"We do know that in some communities it is practised and there is a code of silence around it. Families don't talk about it, neighbours don't talk about it extended family doesn't talk about it because they know it is illegal in Australia. That has got to stop. We need strong leadership in those communities to discourage this practice and part of discouraging it is in reporting it."
Listen to the full interview below.
NSW Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward interviewed by Biwa Kwan:
