The legal framework
A form of female genital cutting, usually described as sunat perempuan, is practised within part of the Malay-Muslim community and is generally performed by private clinicians on infants. There is no specific prohibition and no official data collection. The practice is typically described as minor, but it is a form of female genital cutting under the international definition.
A medicalised form of the practice exists within part of the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore, generally carried out on infants in private clinics. There is no prohibition, no official data and very little public discussion; the authorities have taken the position that it is a private matter within religious practice. Medical bodies have not issued a formal position, which leaves practitioners without guidance.
Key points
| Practice | Sunat perempuan, generally performed on infants by private clinicians |
|---|---|
| Specific law | None; there is no prohibition |
| Data | No official collection; estimates come from academic research |
| Medicalisation | The practice is largely medicalised, which normalises it |
| Care | Gynaecological care is available, though awareness is limited |
| Advocacy | Community groups have begun to raise the question publicly |
In practice
- If you have questions about what was done to you, a gynaecologist can examine and explain.
- Medicalisation does not remove the long-term consequences: it makes the practice harder to question.
- Community advocacy groups provide information and peer support.
- Families travelling to countries with prohibitions should know the law there applies to them.
Where to go
- Gynaecology departments of public hospitals.
- Community advocacy and peer support groups.
- Family service centres for family concerns.
Worth knowing
The fact that a doctor performs the procedure does not make it a medical act. Every major medical body opposes medicalisation precisely because it lends legitimacy without removing harm.
Frequently asked questions
Is it prohibited in Singapore?
No. There is no statute prohibiting it and no official guidance to clinicians. That absence is the notable feature: unlike in most high-income countries, the practice is neither criminalised nor formally discouraged.
What does medicalisation mean here?
That the procedure is performed by a health professional in a clinic rather than traditionally. It reduces the immediate risk of infection but does not make the procedure medically justified, and international health bodies oppose it precisely because medical involvement lends it legitimacy.
Official sources and links
- gov.sg — official government portal
- Singapore Statutes Online — legislation in force