The official site of the Prime Minister’s Office
E-Petitions
- Petitions home
- View petitions
- Create a petition
- About e-petitions
- Step-by-Step Guide
- FAQs
- Terms and Conditions
- Privacy Policy
This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that his government takes all necessary steps with a view to abolishing non-therapeutic circumcision of normal unconsenting children. More details
Submitted by John Dalton – Deadline to sign up by: 10 May 2008 – Signatures: 100
More details from petition creator
Female circumcision is already proscribed in UK Law.
Male child circumcision is a traditional practice within some religious communities. Surgeons and Muslim Groups pressure for it to be performed on the NHS.
Everyone has the right to manifest religious belief, but that right is not absolute. It may be limited to protect the rights and freedoms of others. The rights of the parents to circumcise their children are however in conflict with the rights of the child to autonomy, privacy, dignity and protection from cruel inhuman or degrading treatment.
Male circumcision removes a normal body part with mechanical, sensory and immune functions. The government has a right, if not a duty, to take steps to abolish it even though to do so would be in conflict with the rights of the parents.
Male child circumcision may be performed for therapeutic reasons where strictly justified to treat disease.
Current signatories
John Dalton, the Petition Creator, joined by:
- Sarah McCormick
- Rob Ager
- Norman Goalby
- Dr Brian Rouse
- Phil Peddle
- Sandy Smyth
- Andrew Main
- A Brixey
- Keith Scott
- Sue England
- Keith Corrie
- Anna Langley
- Bryan Kennerley
- Shirley King
- David Bennett
- Martin Cowley
- Phil Healey
- Elizabeth Bellamy
- John Willatts
- Roy Turner
- Charmaine Briscoe
- Tony Kehoe
- Alec Evans
- Steve Hoyland
- David Lyons
- Tim Miles
- Eugene Ingram
- bob rayner
- Martin Henderson
- Paul Brennan
- Gordon Smith
- Nick Godwin
- Tim Trent
- Steve Naylor
- Nick Weeks
- N P Belchamber
- Fergus Gallagher
- John Elsworth
- Robert Gorman
- Pam Mcdonald
- I Lindsay
- Peter Klaver
- Mike Woodhouse
- jonathan lee goman
- David Jonathan Navin
- Roland Gilmore
- d heale
- s cleverly
- david storer
- Lloyd Czaplewski
- Dr Agnieszka Bronowska
- lucy turner
- Alan Davies
- John Moore
- Daniel Purcell
- L Davidson
- Caroline Warren
- G C Frost
- Joanna Bratten
- wayne odell
- P E G COPEhearhear
- Malcolm Howell
- robert william peters
- Jennifer Ayres
- Tim Bourner
- Robin Spencer
- John Blazer
- Robert Sloan
- Robert Calvert
- Robin Hurd//petitions.pm.gov.uk/Childrned2parnts/
- Isabel Guthrie
- David Owen
- Beryl Scott
- Henry Stanley
- L Davidson
- Pauline Vernon
- Glenn Paul James Croad
- Elizabeth W
- AJ Salvage
- Russell
- Daniel Hogan
- ALEXANDRA COFFMAN
- alison
- Jamie Leslie
- Erica Halliday
- Fiona Hourston
- Duncan Charles Hill
- Liam Garvey
- Alexander Nicholson
- J RICHARDS
- Stuart Worthington
- Paul Markham
- Felicity Milner
- Martha Everett
- janice page
- James Fleming
- E Alway
- PETER HOWARD
- Jennifer A. Shepherd
