Is it a good idea to claim the "Right to Bodily Integrity"?

[Droit au Corps Association]

To introduce the subject, see Droit au Corps' critical point of view here: Ethics and the right to physical integrity

with this Conclusion: "Droit au Corps has chosen the path of compassion, which opens up the possibility of dialogue between the parties. Is the alleviation of suffering not an ethical priority shared by most cultures and peoples, a solid and consensual basis for discussion?"

[luke.a...@gmail.com]

It's not necessary to employ a new ethical principle of physical integrity or bodily autonomy. The reason it's wrong to hold down a newborn boy and rip, tear, cut, and/or suck his penis is because these tampering with the genitals of a child is child molestation (by definition), and the perpetrator is a child molester. Does a child have the right to virginity? Does an adult have a right to not be sexually attacked with a knife? Yes and yes.

A child molester who is told "no, you may not molest my son" might indeed suffer from being unable to indulge in their lust for violence. However, it is pathological empathy for child rapists, not compassion, to refuse to name this crime of child sex abuse.

[Jonathan Meddings]

Human rights are not 'new ethical principles'. Human rights and the body of international law that give effect to them are a powerful tool for change. It is a human rights approach that has successfully changed laws around the world with respect to female genital mutilation (although the legislative and regulatory framework could be improved upon as merely criminalising these practices isn't enough).

An understanding of human rights will be essential to progressing our cause through UN mechanisms and also domestically in countries that are required to uphold their human rights obligations under international law. In many countries protecting and promoting human rights is also a charitable purpose that enables organisations to be registered charities and obtain tax concessions, so a human rights approach will also enable our movement to gain resources.

[Kyle Schlegel]

No cultures in the world adopt a philosophy of "ending all suffering everywhere in the world."  Within regions where a concept even exists, it is not a majority.