Changes

In 2013, children's ombudsmen from [[Sweden]], [[Norway]], Finland, [[Denmark]], and Iceland, along with the Chair of the Danish Children's Council and the children's spokesperson for Greenland, passed a resolution that emphasized the decision to be [[circumcised ]] should belong to the individual, who should be able to give [[informed consent]].<ref name="resolution2">{{REFweb

Four boys in Finland were hospitalized after being [[circumcised ]] by a visiting Muslim doctor. One of the boys had gangrene in his [[penis]], but it apparently was successfully treated in hospital. An African-born doctor visiting Kuopio last week performed the operation on seven Muslim boys. The youngest was just three months old, and the oldest were about ten.<ref>{{REFnews

The [https://stm.fi/en/ministry Ministry of Social Affairs and Health] and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities sent a letter to Finnish university hospitals in 2003 to urge them to perform non-medical circumcisions, however some doctors have refused to perform the operation, saying that it violates the [[physical integrity ]] of the child.<ref>{{REFnews

The [https://www.lskl.fi/english/ Central Union for Child Welfare] in Finland issued a position statement on male [[circumcision ]] in 2003. The statement said "circumcision of boys that violates the personal integrity of the boys is not acceptable unless it is done for medical reasons to treat an illness."<ref>{{REFdocument

A Muslim mother had been charged with assault after she had her four-year-old son [[circumcised]]. The trial court ruled that the [[circumcision ]] of the boy was illegal.<ref>{{REFnews

The [https://www.greens.fi/Finnish Green League] voted in 2012 to seek the phase-out of non-medical male [[circumcision ]] of boys by law.<ref>{{REFnews

The [https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-english/ Finns Party] (''Perussuomalaiset'', or PS), formerly known as the True Finns, Finland's third largest political party, proposed banning non-medical [[Brit Milah| ritual circumcision ]] in October 2012.<ref>{{REFnews

* Circumcision must be performed by a medical doctor.* Non-medical [[circumcision ]] is not covered by health care or performed in hospitals or health centres.* [[Circumcision]] must be performed by a medical doctor.* The doctor must perform the circumcision in a clean and sterile environment to prevent [[infection]].* Pain-killers must be used to prevent [[pain]].* The attending physician must provide informatio information about after-care.* The guardians of the boy must provide written [[informed consent]]. If there are two guardians, both must sign.

* The guardians must pay for the cost of the [[circumcision]].* The immigration departement department estimates that about 400 non-medical circumcisions are performed each year.<ref name="foreigner2019">{{REFweb

Board members of the youth organization of the right-wing party ''The Finns'' has have created a citizen's initiative petition to the Parliament to reform the law so as to prohibit non-medical circumcision of boys. The petition is initiated as of {{date|2020-10-21}}, and has half a year, until {{date|2021-04-21}}, to gather the required 50,000 signatures. Only if that requirement is reached, the initiative will proceed to the parliament. An English translation of the Finnish original has been prepared.<ref>{{REFdocument

The [https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/Pages/default.aspx Parliament of Finland] acted on 6 November 2020 to amend the criminal code to more clearly ban [[female genital mutilation ]] (FGM). In addition, the [https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/valiokunnat/lakivaliokunta/Pages/default.aspx Committee on Legal Affairs] stated with regard to [[MGM| male genital mutilation ]] (circumcision) of boys:

However, in its report, the committee also addressed the non-medical [[circumcision ]] of boys.

According to it, non-medical [[circumcision ]] of boys basically satisfies the characteristics of assault.

In Finland, therefore, there is no specific legal justification for non-medical [[circumcision ]] of boys, the committee states in its report.

The Committee on Legal Affairs therefore considered that non-medical [[circumcision ]] of boys also involves regulatory needs that need to be further explored and assessed.

Antero Laukkanen, MP, on the other hand, demanded that the paragraphs and sentences on non-medical [[circumcision ]] of boys be deleted and that Parliament approve the committee's report as far as the ban on female and [[female genital mutilation ]] is concerned.<ref name="teller2020" />

[[Categoryde:FinlandFinnland]]