Figures due out in the autumn from the Department of Health will reveal that 66,000 women in England and Wales have been the victims of female circumcision (otherwise known as female genital mutilation, or FGM).
Attempts to stamp out this barbaric tribal practice have failed in Africa, and - it appears - failed in the UK as well. Acts passed in 1985 and 2003 appear to have had too small an impact, with no convictions, and girls living in the UK still being put through this appalling ordeal.
It is therefore greatly to the credit of the Metropolitan Police that they have just offered a reward of £20,000 for anyone giving information which leads to a prosecution for this crime. People found guilty of participating in, or allowing, this form of child abuse are liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
The Metropolitan Police's proactive move is a positive signal that FGM is now being treated as the crime that it is. The travesty of a crime with 66,000 victims and no convictions will hopefully soon be rectified.
What about male circumcision? This is carried out on boys a few days old, usually by laymen. I am also informed that it is not absolutely essential to certain religions, although it is common practice. Let the children decide for themselves when of age.
I think it's important to appreciate that FGM is not equivalent to male circumcision and has far graver consequences for physical and mental health.
According to the WHO, 80% of FGM involves excision of the clitoris - you'd need to remove considerably more than foreskin to achieve an equivalently devastating effect.
Male circumcision is an integral part of Judaism and Islam as the sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendants. The humanist critique of this is 2300 years old was part of the attempt by Hellenists to destroy Judaism. The defeat of the Hellenists is celebrated every year at Hannukah.
There is no comparison between male circumcision and female clitoral mutilation. Do not be fooled by the term "female circumcision".
FGM is an attempt to end female sexual pleasure.
Defenders of Western Civilisation have to understand that the issue of gender equality via gender neutrality is one of the great weapons we have to highlight the tyranny of Islamic Fundamentalism, and we need to start using it.
It's not 'absolutely essential' to any religion at all.
It's a barbaric and anachronistic act of violence against an individual in the name of someone's invisible friend in the sky.