I've been supporting a man in my country to challenge current laws around non medical male circumcision.

We realised in our advocacy that we need to be specific about numbers of boys this is happening to.

The only information available in New Zealand showed that about 10 percent of boys are circumcised. We assume that few are for non medical reasons. 30,000 boys are born every year, with that being from the National census.

Saying it this way feels more real.

3,000 NZ boys are being circumcised every year. 60 boys every week are having the end of their penis cut off for no medical reason, but because it is seen as normal.

That last bit, the cutting, seems important to me. Circumcision is a euphemism that hides the reality.

I suggest having those actual numbers available when we discuss circumcision and advocate for stopping it.