At the International AIDS Conference AIDS 2012 in Washington DC, I hear the term "male circumcision" a lot. Not enough thought has been given to it

What exactly is meant by the term 'male circumcision'? The word male is redundant. All circumcision is performed on males.

There is no female circumcision. When we use the term male circumcision we imply that female circumcision also exists. Females who are subjected to genital cutting are said to have undergone female genital mutilation or cutting. We no longer used the term female circumcision.

Please treat women with respect by replacing the term male circumcision with the word circumcision. It is time that UNAIDS takes leadership in this respect. If it does not lead, then civil society will have to.

[him] moderator