Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Act 2020

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Justice
Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Act 2020

Public Act
 
2020 No 53
Date of assent
 
6 August 2020
Commencement
 
see section 2

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Act 2020.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3 Principal Act

This Act amends the Crimes Act 1961 (the principal Act).

4 Section 204A amended (Female genital mutilation)

(1)

In section 204A(1), replace the definition of female genital mutilation with:

female genital mutilation

(a)

means the excision, infibulation, or mutilation of the whole or part of the female genitalia of any person; and

(b)

includes—

(i)

the partial or total removal of the clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, or 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 carried out on any part of the female genitalia, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterising; but

(c)

does not include a procedure carried out for cosmetic or enhancement purposes only

(2)

In section 204A(1), insert in its appropriate alphabetical order:

nurse means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of nursing

(3)

In section 204A(3)(a)(ii), after “practitioner”, insert “ or nurse”.

(4)

Replace section 204A(3)(b)(iii) with:

(iii)

by a medical practitioner, midwife, nurse, or trainee health professional, or, if the case is urgent and none of them are available, by any other person.

Legislative history

4 December 2019

Introduction (Bill 194–1), first reading and referral to Health Committee

22 July 2020

Reported from Health Committee (Bill 194–2)

29 July 2020

Second reading, committee of the whole House, third reading

6 August 2020

Royal assent

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.