MISCELLANEOUS
ICASM Network
jean-christophe Lurenbaum
Timothy John
ICASM Network
The Communication Council has grouped several threads opened by Tim into this "Miscellaneous" thread
Portugal: StopIGM Success
Circharmsurvey 5 Mar 2021
Those of us concerned about ways to stop MGC will be encouraged by this recent success of StopIGM/Zwischengeschlecht. Over many years, they used international human rights treaties and respective U.N. committees to hold several countries, including Portugal, accountable for human rights violations of intersex people (mostly children).
In my opinion, we could take some lessons from their strategies and efforts.
https://stopigm.org/un-ccpr-reprimands-portugal-for-intersex-genital-mutilation/
“Once equality stops being a two-way street it stops being equality.”
Circharmsurvey 12 Mar 2021
“It’s clear my circumcision didn’t just hack my prepuce, it gashed my psyche.”
Quotes from "Circumcision Scar" by Jay Jackson (2020).
This is a very emotional and difficult book to read. I reviewed it for the ARC newsletter. I believe this is the first of many highly personal books to come from circumcised men in the future.
https://www.arclaw.org/book-reviews/circumcision-scar
[I'm aware of prior books from Lindsay Watson: 'Unspeakable Mutilations' and Jim Bigelow: 'Joy of Uncircumcising!'. The contained a collection of men's stories, but Jackson's book is the first that I'm aware of that chronicles one man's painful journey.]
Earp: The need for a unified ethical stance on child genital cutting
Timothy John 16 Mar 2021
Just published by Earp. I believe that the reasoning put forth in this article can provide MGM opponents with the arguments we need to convince FGM opponents about the wisdom of forming alliances with MGM opponents (and of course IGM opponents).
The need for a unified ethical stance on child genital cutting
Earp, Shahvisi, Reis-Dennis, and Reis
Nursing Ethics, March 2021
From the above link you can download the full PDF version of the article.
Abstract
The American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Society for Pain Management Nursing, American Academy of Pediatrics, and other largely US-based medical organizations have argued that at least some forms of non-therapeutic child genital cutting, including routine penile circumcision, are ethically permissible even when performed on non-consenting minors. In support of this view, these organizations have at times appealed to potential health benefits that may follow from removing sexually sensitive, non-diseased tissue from the genitals of such minors. We argue that these appeals to “health benefits” as a way of justifying medically unnecessary child genital cutting practices may have unintended consequences. For example, it may create a “loophole” through which certain forms of female genital cutting—or female genital “mutilation” as it is defined by the World Health Organization—could potentially be legitimized. Moreover, by comparing current dominant Western attitudes toward female genital “mutilation” and so-called intersex genital “normalization” surgeries (i.e. surgeries on children with certain differences of sex development), we show that the concept of health invoked in each case is inconsistent and culturally biased. It is time for Western healthcare organizations—including the American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Society for Pain Management Nursing, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Health Organization—to adopt a more consistent concept of health and a unified ethical stance when it comes to child genital cutting practices.
Rest in Power: Nawal El Saadawi
Timothy John 21 Mar 2021
Another human rights pioneer against genital cutting of children has just died, Egyptian-born Nawal El Saadawi. Her death is reported in this NYT article.
What the NYT fails to report is that El Saadawi also opposed MGM. Her Wikipedia entry includes this section below (emphasis mine).
Advocacy against genital mutilation
At a young age, Saadawi underwent the process of female genital mutilation.[48] As an adult, she has written about and criticized this practice. She responded to the death of a 12-year-old girl, Bedour Shaker, during a genital circumcision operation in 2007 by writing: "Bedour, did you have to die for some light to shine in the dark minds? Did you have to pay with your dear life a price ... for doctors and clerics to learn that the right religion doesn't cut children's organs."[49] As a doctor and human rights activist, Saadawi is also opposed to male circumcision. She believes that both male and female children deserve protection from genital mutilation.[50]
There is also this Global Dispatches article about her in which she is quoted:
"Male circumcision is a problem too, I am against that as well, as a doctor."
Timothy John
Tim Hammond
Timothy John
Louise Troy
Johan Nyman
jean-christophe Lurenbaum
‐ born with a penis or assigned male at birth (including intersex and transgender persons);
‐ circumcised as a child without their consent or who later voluntarily chose circumcision;
‐ and is/was engaged in foreskin restoration methods, even if the process was abandoned.
The survey will be open until at least September 30, 2021. Those interested in participation are encouraged to take the survey at one of the following links, both of which are case sensitive.
· https://survey.f-s-r.info/zs/7FBUas
· https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/7FBUas
Note: Some restorers might have already received a survey invitation email from TLCTugger.com or American Bodycrafters that contained the first link, which has caused access problems for some users. If you experience access issues with the first link, please use the second link. For questions, please contact Tim Hammond: circhar...@gmail.com
Louise Troy
ICASM Network
dallieresophie
I told you about my dream to meet Dr. Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner who repairs women from sexual mutilations (most often war rapes or consequences of childbirth without medical assistance).
If this man, who is a hero in the eyes of the world but especially of Africans and even more so of African doctors, would one day publicly speak out against the mutilation of all children, we would be taking a serious step forward.
We are not there yet but we can imagine that the process is underway. In 2018 he had responded to my email with encouragement.
DaC has just received an email informing us that Dr. Mukwege would like to meet with us during his next trip to France.
To be continued
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Droit au Corps Association
Major documentary - JUNGENBESCHNEIDUNG – MEHR ALS NUR EIN KLEINER SCHNITT, Insa Onken, 2022, 52’
English translation > Boy circumcision - More than just a small cut on YouTube
This documentary is historic, at least in Europe, as it is the first to be fully critical of circumcision in a major media, ARTE.
Note that Droit au Corps gladly supports the initiative of Brit Shalom for the Francophonie (appearance after 32:35 with Éric).ICASM Network
ICASM Network
ICASM Network
Droit au Corps Association
Our study showed a significant reduction in bacteria and fungi after circumcision, particularly anaerobic bacteria, which are known to be potential inducers of inflammation and cancer. This is the first study of its kind showing the changes in microbiome after circumcision, and some of the changes that occur in healthy infants after circumcision that may explain the differences in cancer and inflammatory disorders in adulthood.
John Adkison
Droit au Corps Association
ICASM Network
ICASM Network
-----------------------------------
Dear Colleagues,
Herman Bruyndonckx in Belgium has just made me aware of this bold legal effort there to challenge the practice of male genital cutting in his country, which is at an extraordinarily high rate of 44%. Clearly, the vast majority of these cannot be religious in nature, but they follow the same deceptive pattern of medicalization as exists in the US today.
The text of the written fundraising appeal is available in Dutch, French and English. Just click the tab that is most appropriate for you. The link is : Stop genital mutilation. | Steunactie.be
I encourage you to support this effort and to share this appeal with others you may know who are sympathetic to this issue of children's rights.
In unity for the children,
Tim Hammond
____________________________________________________________________________________
Hello,
Slow but steadily things are moving in Belgium...
Recently there were two contributions in a major newspaper in Belgium the 'Standaard'. The first one was titled 'Circumcision of boys without medical indication should be outlawed', on the Internet version there was a poll linked for the readers which showed that 92% agreed with that statement. The title of the other contribution was 'The penis of a little boy has less value then the tail of a pig'.
Today I heard that at the University of Louvain at the department of law a student is preparing her script about circumcision and law. Of course I have offered my assistance...
Currently the inspirer of many initiatives against MGM in Belgium is Mr. Remmery R. (I am more active in the background), for example he wrote the first Belgian book in dutch about circumcision, title 'Let's the boys decide'.
His latest initiative is sending the circumcision-case to court. Just like in the USA the law in Belgium guarantees only protection for girls against genital mutilation which is a violation of the constitution. We have a so called 'Constitutional Court' whose duty is to check laws with the constitution. Apparently they didn't do their work very well in the past so R. Remmery intends to send a lawyer to bring that to their attention.
To pay the fee of the lawyer he started a crowdfunding. My question is if the link of that crowdfunding can be distributed in your network.
The link is : Stop genital mutilation. | Steunactie.be
I thank you in anticipation.
yours sincerely,
Herman Bruyndonckx
ICASM Network
Survey Launched into Foreskin Restoration, Tim Hammond, 25th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health September 2021, 9’
Tim Hammond Post-Conference Interview with Lisa Welsh, WAS 2021 Communications Manager
Global Survey of Circumcision Harm: Interview with Tim Hammond, 2021, 14’
Johan Nyman
Dear all,
I want to inform you all, that Wednesday 3rd of May, during the WWDOGA week, the following event will take place in Helsinki, Finland:
Genital autonomy – children’s right to bodily self-determination
https://intaktfinland.fi/en/events/2023/ga/
Speakers:
- Suvianna Hakalehto, University of Eastern Finland, Professor of Children's Rights: "Non-medical male circumcision - what about children's rights?"
- Brian Earp, Senior Research Fellow in Moral Psychology, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford: "Child Genital Modification: Recent Developments in Medical Ethics and Law"
- Lena Nyhus, chairperson, Intact Denmark
- Dr. Jonas Blixt, Assistant Chief Physician at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
Location:
Helsinki University,
Main Building, U3032
Unioninkatu 34, Helsinki
3rd floor
Entrance via Unioninkatu 34, 3rd floor, Older side of the Main Building.
Accessible entrance to the hall from the building's courtyard via the
gateway from Yliopistonkatu 2.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1371767626889588
https://twitter.com/intakt_ehja/status/1650108389169479682
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U11qHMm89-Qc3RY0BLeTssLVvz-kCdWxz8pu4jvBSCY/
Should anyone of you have the occasion to be in Helsinki that day, you are welcome to join!
Best regards,
Johan N.
Droit au Corps Association
For your information, Droit au Corps has just released its most accomplished video on penis health: Foreskin, forced retraction, circumcision: current situation and outlook. This video is currently available in French, but you can use YouTube's automatic translator.
It's over 2 hours long, but chaptered for quick viewing. For example, you'll find an analysis of Brian Morris and the influence of his network, particularly on VMMC.
This video was produced not to address the whole issue of circumcision, but to focus on the domino of pseudo-medical circumcision, as part of the domino game axis of Droit au Corps' global strategy.
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