Editing Circumcision and law (section)

=== Denmark ===
Circumcision is legal in Denmark, and each year 1,000 to 2,000 boys are circumcised for non-medical reasons, the [[Danish Health Authority]] estimated in 2013,<ref name=":0" /> with most circumcisions being performed on Muslim or Jewish boys in private clinics or private homes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=5 December 2016 |title=Danish doctors come out against circumcision |work=The Local |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20161205/danish-doctors-come-out-against-circumcision |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106155315/https://www.thelocal.dk/20161205/danish-doctors-come-out-against-circumcision |archive-date=6 January 2020}}</ref> For boys below the age of 15, circumcision requires consent from the parents, while the boy can consent when he is 15 years or older.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Fagt |first=Josefine |date=10 January 2018 |title=Det siger Sundhedsstyrelsen og reglerne om omskæring af drenge |language=da |trans-title=This is what the Danish Health Authority and the rules say about male circumcision |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/det-siger-sundhedsstyrelsen-og-reglerne-om-omskaering-af-drenge |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025224/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/det-siger-sundhedsstyrelsen-og-reglerne-om-omskaering-af-drenge |archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref> Circumcision is classified as an operation and reserved for doctors, though the responsible doctor can delegate the actual operation to non-medical person, as long as the doctor is present. The operation requires "sufficient pain relief ([[analgesic]]) and sedation ([[Anesthesia]])"<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Batchelor |first=Oliver |date=29 August 2020 |title=Lægefaglige selskaber på stribe dropper arbejdsgruppe om omskæring: 'Vi er i 2020 og ikke i 1800-tallet' |language=da |trans-title=Spate of medical societies leaves working group about circumcision: 'We are in 2020, not in the 19th century' |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/laegefaglige-selskaber-paa-stribe-dropper-arbejdsgruppe-om-omskaering-vi-er-i-2020 |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829221312/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/laegefaglige-selskaber-paa-stribe-dropper-arbejdsgruppe-om-omskaering-vi-er-i-2020 |archive-date=29 August 2020}}</ref> The doctor is responsible for having the necessary qualifications (both for the operation and the pain relief) and for being informed about the newest scientific developments in the area.<ref name=":0" />

The current guidelines for non-medical circumcision are from 2013, and {{As of|2020|August|lc=y}}, a committee under the Danish Patient Health Authority are in the process of updating them.<ref name=":2" /> In August 2020, the Danish Society of [[Anesthesiology|Anaesthesiology]] and [[Intensive care medicine|Intensive Care Medicine]] withdrew from the committee, because they disagreed with the Authority's opinion that [[Local anesthesia|local anaesthesia]] was sufficient, instead saying the scientific literature showed that [[general anaesthesia]] was necessary.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Honoré |first=David Rue |date=3 September 2020 |title=Trods massiv opbakning til forbud mod rituelle omskæringer er S og V fortsat tavse |language=da |trans-title=Despite massive support for ban on ritual circumcision, S and V remains silent. |work=Berlingske Tidende |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/trods-massiv-opbakning-til-forbud-mod-rituelle-omskaeringer-er-s-og-v |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422011353/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/trods-massiv-opbakning-til-forbud-mod-rituelle-omskaeringer-er-s-og-v |archive-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> Other professional organizations followed them, and according to [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]], only the Authority and two private clinics that perform circumcisions remain in the committee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lind |first=Anton |date=3 September 2020 |title='Tre mænd sad på mine arme, og tre mænd sad på mine ben': Harun ville ønske, han aldrig var blevet omskåret |language=da |trans-title='Three men sat on my arms, and three men sat on my legs': Harun wished he had never been circumcised. |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/tre-maend-sad-paa-mine-arme-og-tre-maend-sad-paa-mine-ben-harun-ville-oenske-han |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422011343/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/tre-maend-sad-paa-mine-arme-og-tre-maend-sad-paa-mine-ben-harun-ville-oenske-han |archive-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>

The Danish population overwhelmingly support a ban on non-medical circumcision of boys below the age of 18. A 2020 survey measured the support at 86%,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Slyngborg |first1=Camilla |last2=Barfoed |first2=Christian Krabbe |date=1 September 2020 |title=Partier kræver forbud mod omskæring af drenge: Stort flertal af danskere enige |work=TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2020-09-01-partier-kraever-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-drenge-stort-flertal-af-danskere-enige |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907120916/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2020-09-01-partier-kraever-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-drenge-stort-flertal-af-danskere-enige |archive-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> while surveys in 2018, 2016 and 2014 measured the support at 83%, 87% and 74%, respectively<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jensen |first=Rasmus Friis |date=20 January 2018 |title=Danskerne vil støtte forbud mod omskæring af børn - råd skal vende sagen, mener partier |language=da |trans-title=Danes will support ban on circumcision of children - council shall discuss the matter, parties think |work=TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2018-01-20-danskerne-vil-stoette-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-boern-raad-skal-vende-sagen-mener |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920112921/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2018-01-20-danskerne-vil-stoette-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-boern-raad-skal-vende-sagen-mener |archive-date=20 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hybel |first1=Kjeld |last2=Benner |first2=Torben |date=11 July 2016 |title=Ni ud af ti danskere vil forbyde rituel omskæring af drengebørn |language=da |trans-title=Nine out of ten Danes wish to ban ritually circumcision of boys |work=Politiken |url=https://politiken.dk/kultur/kultur_top/art5629199/Ni-ud-af-ti-danskere-vil-forbyde-rituel-omsk%C3%A6ring-af-drengeb%C3%B8rn |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922052650/https://politiken.dk/kultur/kultur_top/art5629199/Ni-ud-af-ti-danskere-vil-forbyde-rituel-omsk%C3%A6ring-af-drengeb%C3%B8rn |archive-date=22 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 October 2014 |title=Denmark to once again look at circumcision ban |work=The Local |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20141022/denmark-circumcision-ban-support |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525130257/http://www.thelocal.dk/20141022/denmark-circumcision-ban-support |archive-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> In 2018, a [[Popular initiative|citizen's initiative]] calling for such a ban reached the threshold of 50.000 signatures to be put forward in the [[Folketing]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin Selsoe Sorensen |date=2 June 2018 |title=Denmark Talks (Reluctantly) About a Ban on Circumcising Boys |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/world/europe/denmark-circumcision.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624211510/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/world/europe/denmark-circumcision.html |archive-date=24 June 2018}}</ref> It was subsequently found compliant with the [[Constitution of Denmark|Danish Constitution]], in particularly §67 on religious freedom.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nielsen |first=Mads Korsager |date=27 September 2020 |title=Borgerforslag mod omskæring får grønt lys: Folketinget skal stemme |language=da |trans-title=Citizen's initiative against circumcision gets the green light: The Folketing will be voting |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/borgerforslag-mod-omskaering-faar-groent-lys-folketinget-skal-stemme |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028012440/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/borgerforslag-mod-omskaering-faar-groent-lys-folketinget-skal-stemme |archive-date=28 October 2018}}</ref> The [[Danish Medical Association]] believes boys should decide for themselves after they turn 18 years old, but does not call for a ban.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheikh |first=Jakob |date=4 December 2016 |title=Lægeforeningen: Indfør aldersgrænse for drengeomskæring |language=da |trans-title=Danish Medical Association: Implement an age requirement for circumcision of boys |work=Politiken |url=https://politiken.dk/indland/art5720474/L%C3%A6geforeningen-Indf%C3%B8r-aldersgr%C3%A6nse-for-drengeomsk%C3%A6ring |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103843/https://politiken.dk/indland/art5720474/L%C3%A6geforeningen-Indf%C3%B8r-aldersgr%C3%A6nse-for-drengeomsk%C3%A6ring |archive-date=8 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Politicians are hesitant in supporting a ban, with protection of religious freedom, in particular the Jewish practice of circumcision, and potential foreign policy and national security ramifications mentioned as some of the reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ejsing |first=Jens |date=20 February 2014 |title=Politikere tøver med indgreb mod omskæring af drenge |language=da |trans-title=Politicians hesitate with intervention against circumcision of boys |work=Berlingske Tidende |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/politikere-toever-med-indgreb-mod-omskaering-af-drenge |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422011331/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/politikere-toever-med-indgreb-mod-omskaering-af-drenge |archive-date=22 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Andersen |first=Katja Brandt |date=28 April 2018 |title=Regeringen er mod et forbud mod omskæring af drengebørn |language=da |trans-title=The government is against a ban on circumcision of boys |work=TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2018-04-20-regeringen-er-mod-et-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-drengeboern |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025639/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2018-04-20-regeringen-er-mod-et-forbud-mod-omskaering-af-drengeboern |archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mikkelsen |first1=Morten |last2=Søndergaard |first2=Britta |date=2 September 2020 |title=Strid om omskæring plager de store partier |language=da |trans-title=Dispute about circumcision are a nuisance for the big parties |work=Kristeligt Dagblad |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/strid-om-omskaering-plager-de-store-partier |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903155740/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/strid-om-omskaering-plager-de-store-partier |archive-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> {{As of|2020|September}}, the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] and [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]], who together hold a majority in the [[Folketing]], oppose a ban, while the [[Danish People's Party]], the [[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]], [[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]], [[The Alternative (Denmark)|The Alternative]], [[The New Right (Denmark)|The New Right]] and [[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]] favour a ban. The [[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative]] and the [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]] have no official opinion on the question.<ref name="Fahrendorff">{{Cite news |last=Fahrendorff |first=Rasmus |date=10 September 2020 |title=Efter udmeldinger fra S og V: Politisk flertal er imod omskæringsforbud |language=da |trans-title=After statements from S and V: Political majority oppose circumcision ban |work=Kristeligt Dagblad |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/regeringen-stotter-ikke-et-forbud-mod-rituel-omskaering |url-status=live |access-date=10 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910125511/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/regeringen-stotter-ikke-et-forbud-mod-rituel-omskaering |archive-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>

;In favour of a ban
* [[Danish People's Party]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[The Alternative (Denmark)|The Alternative]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[The New Right (Denmark)|The New Right]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />

;Against a ban
* [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />

;Neutral
* [[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative People's Party]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />
* [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]]<ref name="Fahrendorff" />

With a two-thirds majority against, the Folketing voted against a ban on circumcision in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mathilde |first1=Karen |last2=Jørgensen |first2=Møller |date=18 May 2021 |title=Flertal nedstemte forslag om forbud mod omskæring |language=da |work=Kristeligt Dagblad |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/skal-der-indfoeres-en-aldersgraense-paa-18-aar-rituel-drengeomskaering-nej-sagde-et-stort}}</ref>