STOP Intersex Genital Mutilations in Children's Clinics!

>>> Why UK intersex advocate Dawn Vago can't testify at the UN in Geneva
>>> UK > NHS Doctor admits to performing Intersex Genital Mutilation

CEDAW 72nd Session @ Palais des Nations, Geneva 26.02.2018, 09:57h: Getting ready ...

StopIGM.org together with UK intersex NGOs IntersexUK (iUK) and UK Intersex Association (UKIA)  submitted 2 comprehensive NGO Reports on the situation of intersex people in the UK to CEDAW, which demonstrate that intersex genital mutilation continues in in all 4 devolved nations, and during the Lunchtime meeting of CEDAW with UK NGOs on 25.02.2019 further briefed the Committee with a Joint Intersex Briefing Update (PDF).

>>> Full CEDAW Timeline UK 2018-2019

During the 72nd Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Committee is examining the human rights record of the UK on Tuesday 26 February 2019, 10-13h CET + 15-17h CET (= 9am-noon UK time + 2pm-4pm UK time), with both Session being transmitted LIVE on webtv.un.org. StopIGM.org was reporting LIVE from Geneva, hoping the Committee will ask tough questions on IGM practices in UK!

Session 1, Tue 26 February 2019, 10-13h CET

11:55h (Video @ 1:54:35): YAY!! Committee expert Ms. Bandana Rana (Nepal) who covers CEDAW article 5 on "harmful cultural practices" just raised "intersex genial mutilation" and the lack of access to redress and justice! Notes the UK didn't reply to the pre-session question in the List of Issues (LOI) on data about IGM. Repeats demand for statistics and asks if UK does plan to implement legislation to stop IGM and address lack of access to justice, including the statutes of limitations? Unofficial Transcript:

«The Committee is concerned about reports of Intersex Genital Mutilation, and the lack of redress and compensation in such cases. As the number of such procedures was also not included in the List of Issues, can you provide data on the number of such surgeries on intersex children? Do you plan to adopt legislation to eliminate this practice, and to address obstacles to access to justice, namely the statutes of limitations?»

12:09h (Video @ 2:07:56): Weak answer on IGM by Head of Delegation Ms. Elysia McCaffrey (Deputy Head, Government Equalities Office), refers to the Call for Evidence (which reportedly “fails to adequately consider human rights, namely the non-derogable rights to protection from harmful practices, and to justice and redress for victims”, see Joint Briefing Update (PDF, p.1, last para)), claims UK wants to really understand. Unofficial Transcript:

«I would just like to start if I may a little bit out of order around the question on intersex genital mutilation. We have just issued a Call for Evidence in England where we recognise that we don't have sufficient understanding of this issue and the issues that have affected these individuals, and we want to really understand that, and that Call for Evidence has been issued recently. So I'm afraid that I don't have detailed answers on that today but I do [indiscernible] we're happy to follow up with the Committee once we've completed that exercise.»

12:30h (Video @ 2:28:55): Head of Delegation Ms. Elysia McCaffrey (Deputy Head, Government Equalities Office) gives some more info on the "Call for Evidence" (which reportedly “fails to adequately consider human rights, namely the non-derogable rights to protection from harmful practices, and to justice and redress for victims”, see Joint Briefing Update (PDF, p.1, last para)), states it is a complicated issue issue, claims UK wants to do the right thing. Unofficial Transcript:

«My colleague has just helpfully let me know I mentioned the intersex Call for Evidence that was launched on the 17 January and it's a 10 week Call for Evidence and it is designed to understand the experiences of people who have variations in their sex characteristics. So this is, obviously it's an emerging and complicated area policy and we're looking to use this Call for Evidence to help us really do the right thing and make sure the position is significantly improved for those people.»

Session 2, Tue 26 February 2019, 15-17h CET

16:21h (Video @ 1:22:12): Committee expert Ms. Ana Peláez Narváez (Spain), of CRPD13 fame, follows up on forced sterilisation of women with disabilities, as well as intersex genital mutilation (the question's wording was perhaps not entirely clear at first, as“surgeries to reassign sex or change sex” gererally refer to consensual trans surgery, not IGM) – however, this was soon clarified in the answer, see below), what measures is the UK taking to repeal those practices? Unofficial Transcript:

«I also wanted to ask something else. I'm concerned by the fact that forced treatment can be used in the State party for sterilisation for example or surgeries to reassign sex or change sex. So I would like to know what measures the State party has taken in order to repeal these practices and bring it into line with a human rights based focus.»

16:37h (Video @ 1:36:52): Head of Delegation Ms. Elysia McCaffrey (Deputy Head, Government Equalities Office) answers on forced sterilisation and intersex genital mutilation, again referring to the "Call for Evidence" (which reportedly “fails to adequately consider human rights, namely the non-derogable rights to protection from harmful practices, and to justice and redress for victims”, see Joint Briefing Update (PDF, p.1, last para)), but else remains vague (and didn't answer at all regarding forced sterilisation of women with disabilities). (Though kudos for correctly answering on IGM.) Unofficial Transcript:

«In relation to forced sterilisation and for changing sex, I think if I understand this question rightly you were referring to intersex genital mutilation and this is something that we're aware of the debate around and we are aware of the debate on the practice of medical interventions in this area. Really we require more govern- more evidence of the nature and the scale of this issue, and the call for evidence which I talked about earlier today should help us to determine whether and what government intervention is necessary.»

In March, the Committee will publish its "Concluding observations" with binding recommendations – hopefully including yet another strong reprimand for IGM practices for the UK! Fingers crossed!

>>> Full Chronology CEDAW UK 2018-19
>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!

>>> IGM in the UK, 2019: CEDAW Intersex Briefing Update (PDF, 2 pages)
>>> UK > NHS Doctor admits to performing Intersex Genital Mutilation
>>> Why UK intersex advocate Dawn Vago can't testify at the UN in Geneva

Intersex Genital Mutilations in the UK: 2018 CEDAW Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
IGM in the UK •  Statistics • Complicity of the State • Harmful Practice
>>> Download as PDF (679 kb)

IGM in the UK: 2019 Follow-Up Report (for Session)
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
Impunity • International IGM Networks in the UK • Testimonies
>>> Download as PDF (430 kb)

>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!
>>> Intersex: How to Distinguish Medical Crimes from Health Care

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 40 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

NHS Bristol paediatric surgeon Mark Woodward, "the chair of the NHS England review of surgery on intersex people", publicly admits to performing involuntary genital surgery on intersex children, according to the BBC "the majority of [it] not medically needed".
(However, according to a recent UK Study there are rather 2900 IGM procedures annually.)

We're saying kudos to Dr Woodward for going public in a >>> 15-minutes BBC video report about "Intersex surgeries" (which actually are not about "assigning sex", but according to the UN simply a serious human rights violation – also the often-repeated wrong number of allegedly "as many as 1.7% of the world have intersex traits" is unfortunately as false as claiming "the UN" would say this, actually there are rather 0.2% intersex people, see this excellent rebuke by BBC's Tim Harford).

The following is a transcript of Mark Woodward's statements in the video:

[Previous segment: Holly Greenberry, co-founder IntersexUK denounces the "huge detrimental impact" of unnecessary genital surgery on intersex children.]

[ video @ 11.46 min ] Mark Woodward (Consultant Paediatric Urologist [Surgeon], NHS Bristol): But that's just focusing on that small aspect of health. And that's not necessarily looking at psychology, the social impact of it.

Commentary: Mark Woodward will be the chair of the NHS England review of surgery on intersex people.

Moderator: Of the numbers of surgeries that are happening on DSD children in the UK, how many of those are necessary medically?

Woodward: It looks like roughly 150 children a year are assessed as new patients with DSD, and maybe between 20 and 40 surgical procedures a year in the whole of the UK, so we are talking about relatively small numbers.

Moderator: Of those 20 to 30 who are having surgery, how many of those would you estimate are absolutely required to happen in childhood?

Woodward: Yes, so I mean that is the big question, if you said are these procedures absolutely medically necessary? I.e. is a child going to come to harm if they don't have surgery, well that number would be not that whole group, it would be smaller than that.

Voiceover: So while the majority of UK surgeries on intersex or DSD children are not medically needed, Mark Woodward, like Joyce Mbogo in Kenya, says it is often the parents pushing for them.

Woodward: So yes sometimes when you hear people talking about surgery, it's as if we, the surgeons, are kind of dragging the children out of the parent's arms and doing the surgery somehow against what the parents want. I mean that has never been my experience with the UK approach in DSD. I mean I feel, as do most of the people I speak to involved is that our position s we do not want to do any surgery, we would rather not do any surgery at all. I can imagine some teenagers saying, I wish I hadn't had to make this surgery decision for myself.

Moderator: But are these imagined scenarios?

Woodward: Yeah they are totally imagined, yeah. Yeah.

Moderator: So we don't know.

Woodward: Yeah that's the problem we have absolutely no idea.

[Next segment: The Lohmans in Milwaukee, parents of intersex child Rosie: “All of the horror stories we were told Rosie's life was going to be like if we just left her be and none of which have come true. […] Rosie is fine.“]

By the way, you'll find the entire statistics of the recent Huddersfield Intersex Study (which found 2900 IGM surgeries annually in the UK alone!) and more evidence in the initial CEDAW Intersex NGO Report (PDF, see p. 11-16).

Intersex Genital Mutilations in the UK: 2018 CEDAW Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
IGM in the UK •  Statistics • Complicity of the State • Harmful Practice
>>> Download as PDF (679 kb)

IGM in the UK: 2019 Follow-Up Report (for Session)
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
Impunity • International IGM Networks in the UK • Testimonies
>>> Download as PDF (430 kb)

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 40 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

Both the English and the French UN press releases on the review of Italy by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 22.-23.02.2019 feature the questions of the Committee Expert about IGM and reparations, and how Italy quickly changed the subject, non-answering on "trans law" and "3rd gender" instead (however both releases don't include the follow-up Q&A, see full report):

“Committee on the Rights of the Child reviews the situation of children in Italy”
>>> UN Press Release (23.01.2019)

Questions by the Committee Experts

[...]

The delegation was asked about the procedure in place when an intersex child was born, and whether surgeries and medical procedures performed without consent were prosecuted.

Replies by the Delegation

[...]

Gender assignment surgery was regulated by the 1982 law which prescribed that the cost of operating on ambiguous genitalia was covered by the State.  In 2015, the Constitutional Court had restated the principle for the need of a judicial review on sex change in old cases.  Italy would amend the sex determination on the certificate of birth assistance to include also the category of undetermined. 

[...]

“Le Comité des droits de l’enfant a examine le rapport de l'Italie”
>>> Communique de presse de l'ONU (23.01.2019)

Examen du rapport

Questions et observations des membres du Comité

[...] 

[...]  Ce même expert a demandé s’il était toujours possible en Italie d’imposer une intervention chirurgicale aux enfants intersexes et si les enfants concernés pouvaient obtenir des réparations. 

[...]

Réponses de la délégation

[...]

La délégation a expliqué que l’attribution du sexe est régie par la loi.  Le recours à une intervention chirurgicale n’est permis qu’en cas de « sexualité ambiguë », a-t-elle précisé, expliquant qu’il faut alors chercher à favoriser les facteurs dominants.  Les modalités de changement de sexe doivent faire l’objet d’un contrôle judiciaire, a souligné la délégation.  Le traitement chirurgical est un instrument auquel il peut éventuellement être recouru pour assurer le bien-être psychique des personnes concernées, a indiqué la délégation.  Elle a fait état d’un projet de loi qui prévoit qu’à la naissance, le sexe puisse être mentionné comme étant masculin, féminin ou indéterminé.

[...]

>>> Italy + Belgium > UN-CRC80 to examine Intersex Genital Mutilation
>>> Italy > Asked about intersex, Gov replies on trans + "3rd gender"
>>> Belgium > Gov claims it's "medical treatment", not human rights issue

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

IGM as a Harmful Practice: UN-CRC Briefing
• IGM: A Survivor's Perspective • Intersex Movement History
• What are Variations of Sex Anatomy?  • What are IGM Practices?
• IGM and Human Rights  • Conclusion: IGM as a Harmful Practice
>>> Download PDF (3.14 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

UN-CRC 80th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 24.01.2018: Getting ready ...

StopIGM.org together with Belgian intersex advocate Thierry Bosman, with the support of Intersex Belgium, and with additional help from Londé Ngosso submitted 2 comprehensive NGO Reports on the Situation of Intersex People in Belgium to CRC, which demonstrate that intersex genital mutilation practices continue in Belgium, and during the Pre-Session on 04.06.2018 briefed the Committee with a Joint intersex Statement.

>>> Full CRC Timeline Belgium 2018-2019

During the 80th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committe is examining the human rights record of Belgium on 24-25 January 2019, with both Session being transmitted on webtv.un.org. StopIGM.org is reporting LIVE from Geneva, hoping the Committee will ask tough questions on IGM practices in Belgium!

Session 1, Thu 24 January 2019, 15-18h

15:50h: (Video @ ca. 00:50:00)YAY!! Committee expert and Country co-rapporteur Ms. Velina Todorova (Bulgaria) raises intersex children and IGM! Criticises non-urgent irreversible surgery and prenatal treatment before the children are old enough to provide informed consent. Asks for statistics. How does the government plan to adress this issue? Maintains this is both an issue of harmful practices and child participation.   Unofficial Transcript:

«Intersex children. We have been informed that many non-urgent, irreversible surgical and other procedures including prenatal have been undertaken on intersex children before an age at which that they are able to provide informed consent. Is there statistics available on this matter, and how does the government plan to address this issue? It is both a matter of harmful practice and of participation. The child should be able to agree or disagree on a matter affecting his or her identity.»

Session 2, Fri 25 January 2019, 10-13h

11:24h: (Video @ ca. 01:24:00) Non-answer on "medical procedures for intersex children" by Ms. Christel de Craim, Representative of the Minister of Justice to the National Commission of the Rights of the Child. Refers to Belgian Constitution art. 22bis which guarantees the right to physical integrity, however, there's no law prohibiting non-vital procedures on intersex children. Decisions are made by parents, medical personnel and the child if old enough. There is no fixed age for children to be able to consent. Mentions trans law of 25 June 2017, but then says herself that this is off-topic. No answers on statistics and how to address human rights issues ... (Though kudos for publicly noticing trans legislation is not relevant to intersex children!) Unofficial Translation from original French:

«Ms. Karen van Laethem (President of National Commission on the Rights of the Child): There was a rather specific question on medical procedures for intersex children.»

«Ms. Christel de Craim: Indeed, Article 22bis of the Belgian Constitution provides that every child has the right to respect for his or her moral, physical, psychological and sexual integrity, but there is no legal prohibition in Belgium of non-vital treatment or interventions concerning intersex children who do not have the capacity of discernment to make such a decision.

Article 12 of the Law of 22 August 2002 on the patient's right stipulates that, depending on age and maturity, the patient is involved in the exercise of his rights.The rights listed in this law may be exercised autonomously by the minor patient who may be considered capable of reasonably assessing his or her interests. When choosing a medical treatment for a child several people are involved, the parents, the caregiver and of course the child himself.

Belgian legislation does not impose age limits because they are relative. The practitioner or caregiver must actually assess the maturity of the minor and verify whether he or she is competent for all or only one of the patient's rights. Nevertheless, the minor who has the capacity for discernment may exercise the right to refuse medical treatment autonomously, this could also include the refusal of vital treatment. 

Concerning the law of 25 June 2017 reforming the regimes relating to transgender persons regarding the mention of a change in the registration of sex in civil status records and its effects, it is, in my opinion, something else and it makes no sense to mention them here. Thank you.»

>>> Belgique > Communiqué de l'ONU souligne l'absence de protection législative
>>> Italy + Belgium > UN-CRC80 to examine Intersex Genital Mutilation
>>> UPDATE!! UN-CRC condems IGM in Belgium as a "harmful practice" (like FGM)

Intersex Genital Mutilations in Belgium: 2018 CRC Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
IGM in Belgium • Complicity of the State • Harmful Practice
>>> Download as PDF (376 kb)

IGM in Belgium: 2018 Follow-Up Report (for Session)
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
Gov sidelines Intersex Advocates • International IGM Networks in Belgium
>>> Download as PDF (210 kb)

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

[ Italiano ]

UN-CRC 80th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 22.01.2018: Gearing up ...
On the left: Italian intersex advocate Claudia Balsamo and StopIGM.org's Daniela Truffer with the follow-up Intersex NGO Report for the Session. (Photo: Markus Bauer)

StopIGM.org together with Italian intersex advocate Claudia Balsamo, with the support of Intersexioni and Intersex Esiste, and with additional help from Michela Balocchi and Daniela Crocetti submitted 2 comprehensive NGO Reports on the Situation of Intersex People in Italy to CRC, which demonstrate that intersex genital mutilation practices continue in Italy, and during the Pre-Session on 06.06.2018 briefed the Committee with a Joint intersex Statement (PDF).

>>> Full CRC Timeline Italy 2018-2019

During the 80th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committe is examining the human rights record of Italy on 22-23 January 2019, with both Session being transmitted on webtv.un.org. StopIGM.org is reporting LIVE from Geneva, hoping the Committee will ask tough questions on IGM practices in Italy!

Session 1, Tue 22 January 2019, 15-18h

16:00h: (Video @ 00:59:30)YAY!! Committee expert and Country co-rapporteur Mr. Jorge Cardona Llorens (Spain) raises harmful practices on intersex children under violence, asking about protocols, incidents of involuntary unnecessary procedures, and legal provisions regarding prevention and remedy! Unofficial Translation from original Spanish:

«I shall end, Madam President, with very brief questions in relation to intersex children.
What is the health care protocol for intersex children?
What procedures and steps should health teams follow when an intersex child is born?
Are any of these children undergoing medical or surgical treatment?
What kind of support is planned to provide appropriate counselling and support to families of intersex children?
In relation to this, have incidents of surgical and other medical treatment without informed consent come to our attention, have they carried out an investigation into this? If so, do they have legal provisions in place to provide redress to victims of such treatment?
What training do medical professionals and psychologists receive on the sexual, biological and physical diversity associated with this phenomenon, and on the consequences of unnecessary surgical and other medical interventions for intersex children?»

17:18h: (Video @ 02:18:04)  Prof. Salvatore Sciacchitano, endocrinologist and Head Secretary at the Ministry of Health, non-answers on intersex: While the question was about intersex and IGM, he shortly claimed this would be "therapeutic health care procedures" the quickly changed subject and instead "replied" on Transgender (referring to law 164 of 1982 about changing legal sex) ... He also raised environmental pollution causing intersex in the Veneto region. Unofficial Translation from original Italian:

«I gladly answer the question of the Spanish commission member in my capacity as representative of the ministry of health and [...] in my capacity as endocrinologist. The question referred to sexual differentiation disorders. in the health field, the path of surgical and registry attribution of sex is regulated in Italy by law 164 of 1982 [= "Law on Transsexualism"!].

The medical-surgical treatment provided for by law number 164 of 1982 is necessary only if there is a condition of conflict of the so-called ambiguous genitalia. I would like to point out that the Constitutional Court in 1985 sanctioned that sexual identity takes into account not only external sexual characteristics, but also psychological and social elements, resulting in a conception of sex as a complex data of personality determined by a set of factors whose balance must be facilitated or sought by favoring the dominant factor or factors.

Recently, our constitutional court ruled again in october 2015 reaffirming the principle that it remains inevitable a rigorous judicial assessment of the manner in which the change occurred and its definitive character. The court specified that compared to the change of sex, surgical treatment is a possible tool to help achieve a full psychological and physical well-being of the person.

And I would also like to mention the National Committee for Bioethics, which in 2010 issued an opinion on disorders of sexual differentiation in particular in children and in particular related to diseases that may occur in children. The National Committee for Bioethics focuses in particular on the consideration of the so-called exceptional cases where there are no objective indications for the sexual assignment.

The current legislation governing the declaration of sex at birth dating back to november 2000 is supplemented with a confidential note based on rigorous and complete medical certification of the disease from which the newborn suffers, so as to allow later, if necessary, a correction of the indication of age through a more simplified procedure than that provided for by law.

I would also like to mention that in these days our ministry is engaged together with the Veneto region on a large number of cases recorded in this region of disorders of sexual differentiation in fetuses of mothers subjected to water pollution with perfluoralkylic substances, so called PHAS, resulting from the processing of plastic materials, that have damaged the fetuses especially males of contaminated mothers causing dysfunction of their sexual differentiation. Our ministry of health is therefore also engaged in the front of prevention and research and identification of possible causes of disorders in particular those caused by environmental pollutants. Thank you.»

17:22h: (Video @ 02:22:03)  Ms. Serena Battilomo, Director of Office IX on protection of women's health and vulnerable individuals at the Ministry of Health additionally "replied" on a new 3rd gender in birth assistance certificates ("M, F, Indeterminate") ... Unofficial Translation from original Italian:

«I add a single element of updating about the fact that recently we are updating the birth assistance certificate I mentioned before for a new outline that in terms of indication of sex to the unborn child, while today provides male or female and then a description of female and male genitalia, we will replace everything instead with male or female or indeterminate  because the condition at that time is not identifiable, just to take into account the specificity of these cases and accompany them in the definition and in time.»

Session 2, Wed 23 January 2019, 10-13h

11:41h: (Video @ 01:41:48) YAY!! Committee expert and Country co-rapporteur Mr. Jorge Cardona Llorens (Spain) follows up on intersex and IGM! Clarifies answer was rather on trans issues, not intersex children. Repeats: What is the current protocol for intersex procedures, who decides? Unofficial Translation from original Spanish:

«The answers regarding intersex children were answers that had more to do with trans children, but not intersex children. They intervene surgically when the child is born, it is the parents and the doctor who decide what sex the child is going to have when it is not clear? Their genitals, what do they belong to, who decides that? What is the protocol for acting?»

12:39h: (Video @ 02:39:04) More non-answers on intersex by Prof. Salvatore Sciacchitano, endocrinologist and Head Secretary at the Ministry of Health: Reads out the unrealistically low numbers on "urogenital surgery" from the State report Annex (discussed in the NGO Report for Session, p. 10-12), claims all surgery decisions were only taken after the child has consented. Unofficial Translation from original Italian:

«Yes, thank you, Salvatore Sciacchitano, Ministry of Health. I answer the questions of the Spanish Commissioner regarding sexual differentiation disorders, saying that reference has been made to the codes of the international classification of diseases, the codes of surgery, as well as data extracted from hospital admissions.

According to the Chicago Consensus Conference of 2006, sexual differentiation disorders have been established to be due to a series of diseases such as Klinefelter syndrome, gonadal dysgenesis, indeterminate sex pseudo-hermaphroditism, sexual chromosome abnormalities, other [incomprehensible] testicular functions, androgenic resistance syndrome or morris syndrome, adrenogenital syndrome.

I refer [incomprehensible] to all the procedures that are always included for the same codes as surgical procedures and appoint urogenital apparatus surgeries, and I stress urogenital, and I will say that in the selection of all that is the case study we received, we used criteria of age between 0 and 17 years, and taking into account the peculiarity of the expression of informed consent of minors in relation to the gradual ability to discern. The third element of data provision was the SDO system. The SDO system consists of the hospital disposal forms referring to the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, where we have separated all the pathologies that referred to subjects between 0 and 17 years, and of these we have made a comparative assessment with other states.

We have therefore what is the percentage with which surgery was used in the diagnosis of sexual differentiation disorder for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2015, surgery was used in 0.8% of the diagnoses, in 2015 in 0.9, pardon me, in 2015 in 0.8, in 2016 in 0.9, in 2017 in 0.2 percent of sexual differentiation disorders were surgically treated.

A total of 2017 1252 cases of sexual differentiation disorders were diagnosed, and three cases were surgically treated in 2017. They are a 13-year-old male, a 2-year-old female, and another 16-year-old female. In the decision he chose the surgeon, after hearing the parents, and in the case of a minor with discernment skills was also heard the minor, and therefore we have two who were aged 13 and 16 years.

I repeat the concept, these are urogenital interventions, so in some of these probably the concern was to ensure the function of urination.»

Intersex Genital Mutilations in Italy: 2018 CRC Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
IGM in Italy • Complicity of the State • Harmful Practice
>>> Download as PDF (391 kb)

IGM in Italy: 2018 Follow-Up Report (for Session)
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
IGM Statistics • International IGM Networks in Italy • Testimonies
>>> Download as PDF (450 kb)

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

Photo: 1st Nepali Intersex National Workshop 2016, co-organised by Esam Regmi and Parsu Ram Rai  >>> More info

The UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW) condemned “infanticide, forced marriage and medically unnecessary procedures” on intersex children in Nepal as a “harmful practice” (just like FGM).
Nepal, already reprimanded by the UN Child Rights Committee (CRC) in 2016, remained silent on questions by CEDAW experts in Geneva.
CEDAW now calls on Nepal to “prohibit” and “prosecute” such acts, and to ensure “effective remedies for victims”.
Nepal can no longer ignore harmful practices on intersex people! (Nor continue to falsely claim to prevent harmful practices by introducing a “3rd gender in legal documents” and generally misrepresent intersex as “transgender”.)

During its 71st Session in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) examined the human rights record of Nepal.

Nepali intersex advocates Esan Regmi and Parsu Ram Rai together with StopIGM.org submitted a Joint Thematic Intersex NGO Report (PDF) and briefed the Committee, providing compelling evidence. CEDAW then raised these serious violations with Nepal, first in the written questions in the List of Issue (LOI) and then during the Session in Geneva – both times, the Nepali Government remained silent.

The intersex advocates welcome the strong binding recommendations (fulltext see below) now issued by the Committe, explicitly condemning infanticide, genital mutilation and other harmful practices on Nepali intersex people in Nepal – both domestic and abroad!
  

Esan Regmi and Parsu Ram Rai (Nepali intersex advocates):

“These renewed Concluding Observations by CEDAW are another milestone for the rights and dignity of intersex people in Nepal, yet there is still much to do. We hope that this strong recommendations will break through the differences in the discussion on intersex issues and that Nepal will take a leap for change!”
       

Daniela Truffer and Markus Bauer (StopIGM.org):

“This marks the first time that CEDAW (or any UN Committee) explicitly addressed intersex infanticide in Concluding observations. Intersex advocates in Africa [1] [2] [3] [4] [5], Asia and South America have long denounced intersex infanticide and child abandonment as a pressing issue, same as genital mutilations in in ‘western’ children's clinics. Also CRC already explicitly condemned medical genital mutilation and massive bullying preventing intersex children from attending school in Nepal as harmful practices. These serious violations must stop!”
       

Nepal: Full Binding CEDAW71 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Full Concl Obs: CEDAW/C/NPL/CO/6 --> paras 18(c),(d) – 19(a),(c),(d)
>>> 2018 CEDAW Joint Intersex NGO Report (PDF) | Joint Intersex Statement (PDF) 
>>> UN Press Releases Highlight Intersex Infanticide and IGM in Nepal
>>> Timeline Nepal CEDAW 2018

Stereotypes and harmful practices

18.   The Committee welcomes the criminalization of a number of harmful practices, including chhaupadi, dowry, accusation of witchcraft, discrimination against Dalit and child marriage. It, however, expresses concern at:

       [..]

       (c)    Discrimination against intersex persons, namely abuse, reported infanticide, forced marriage and conduct of medically unnecessary procedures on Nepali intersex infants and children, on the territory of the State party or abroad, before they reach an age when they are able to provide their free, prior and informed consent;

       (d)    Underreporting of harmful practices and insufficient short- and long-term support for victims.

19.    Recalling its previous recommendation (CEDAW/C/NPL/CO/4-5, para. 18), the Committee recommends that the State party, in line with the Joint General Recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on harmful practices, as well as with target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for the elimination of all harmful practices:

       (a)    Expedite (i) the adoption of legislation prohibiting all forms of harmful traditional practices, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of such practices, impose adequate sanctions and provide compensation to victims; and (ii) the development of a comprehensive strategy, with concrete goals and resources, in collaboration with civil society and local government, to raise awareness of all stakeholders, including the police, the judiciary, village-based health networks, as well as of religious and community leaders on legislation on harmful practices and on the effects of these practices on the lives of women and girls;

       [...]

       (c)    Adopt legislative provisions that explicitly prohibit the performance of unnecessary surgical or other medical procedures on intersex children before they reach the legal age of consent, and train medical and psychological professionals on the rights of intersex persons;

       (d)    Ensure that victims of harmful practices can file complaints without fear of retribution or stigma and have access to effective remedies and victim support, such as legal, social, medical and psychological assistance and shelters.
  

Intersex Genital Mutilations in Nepal: 2018 CEDAW Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reproductive Anatomy
Infanticide + IGM in Nepal • Complicity of the State • Harmful Practice
>>> Download as PDF (328 kb)

>>> 2018 CEDAW Joint Intersex Statement Nepal (PDF)
>>> UN Press Releases Highlight Intersex Infanticide and IGM in Nepal
>>> Timeline Nepal CEDAW 2018

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

“Human Rights For Hermaphrodites Too!”: 1st Intersex Protest at Zurich University Children's Hospital, 06.07.2008

26 October is Intersex Awareness Day.

This year we would like to recall the suffering of the victims of soon-to-be 60 years of systematic IGM practices, in the establishment and dissemination of which the Zurich University Children's Hospital (Kispi) played an important role globally (see CRC NGO Report, PDF p. 54–56).

And to protest once more against the appalling injustice, how to this day the dignity of IGM survivors and their right to truth, justice and reparation are disgracefully trampled on by those responsible.

Zurich University Children's Hospital: Destruction of medical records instead of reappraisal

An example of this is the shocking story of Erich Marti (see CRC NGO Report, PDF p. 54–56), who was subjected to unnecessary cosmetic genital surgery at Kispi Zurich in 1945 and 1946, whereupon his operated genital became extremely touch-sensitive, so that it always hurts strongly when aroused. Like most Intersex children, Erich Marti was lied to all his life – by his parents, by the Kispi doctors and by his family doctor. To this day he does not know what was done to him as a child and suffers from this uncertainty.

When in 2016 the Children's Hospital and the University of Zurich announced that, as part of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Project No. 169575, they would be “reviewing” the treatment of children with variations of sex development (DSD) at the Zurich University Children's Hospital and making the medical records available to those affected in the Zurich State Archives, Erich Marti regained hope – only to be shamefully deceived and bitterly disappointed again.

Despite protests from persons concerned, the Zurich Children's Hospital and University had about 80% of all relevant medical records destroyed beforehand – apparently also those of Erich Marti (see 2017 CAT NGO Report, PDF p. 9). For when he, with the support of the human rights group Zwischengeschlecht.org, asked the State Archives for access, his medical records were no longer there – the only thing left was an entry in the register, which confirmed, however, that Erich Marti had been operated twice in the pediatric surgery department of the Kispi in 1945 and 1946!

Mon 29.10.2018: Non-partisan initiative in the Cantonal Council of Zurich

Next Monday, a non-partisan initiative will be submitted to the Cantonal Council of Zurich – more on this soon!

After an interpellation in the National Council and the motion in the Cantonal Council of Geneva, this is already the 3rd parliamentary initiative in Switzerland this year due to the work of StopIGM.org / Zwischengeschlecht.org.

We are also staying on the ball internationally: Due to a joint shadow report and testimonies of IGM survivors, Mexico was condemned for the first time this year by a UN treaty body – as were Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,  Spain and Argentina! There were further condemnations this year for Chile, Australia and New Zealand. And the Women's Rights Committee CEDAW questioned Nepal this week – hopefully followed by another reprimand for "harmful cultural practices" on Intersex children in November.

We wish everyone a fighting Intersex Awareness Day 2018!

On 26 October, Intersex People, Survivors, Partners, Families, Friends and Allies around the globe celebrate Intersex Awareness Day, commemorating the very first INTERSEX PROTEST in Boston in 1996 against the Annual Convention of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and in support of over 20 Years of Organised Struggle to End INTERSEX GENITAL MUTILATIONS.

See also:
- Celebrating Intersex Awareness Day 2017 
- USA Recognise Intersex Awareness Day 2017 - Mutilations Continue ...
- IAD 2016: Soon 20 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations!
- Intersex Awareness Day 2015: Nonviolent Intersex Protest @ Zurich State Parliament
- 'Boston '96 was a PROTEST!' Happy 10th Intersex Awareness Day 2013!

>>> Intersex: How to Distinguish Medical Crimes from Health Care

• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) to examine IGM Practices
• CAT 2011: Germany must investigate IGM practices and compensate survivors!

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

UPDATE!!  UN-CESCR obliges Germany to "prohibit" IGM! (see below)

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) reviewed the human rights record of Germany under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during its 64th session in Geneva. Committee experts were "very concerned" about IGM and asked about legal protections, while Germany admitted that “Data on surgeries performed on intersex children were not being collected”, promising once more to finally take action (soon):

“Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights meets with civil society from Argentina, Mali and Germany (UN press relase 24.09.2018)
[...]
Discussion on Germany
Statement from the national human rights institution
CLAUDIA MAHLER, German Institute for Human Rights [...]  Finally, intersexed children were still victims of often irreversible surgery, Ms. Mahler said.”

(The German Institute for Human Rights, in its 2017 NHRI report (PDF, p. 9, item 7) had already raised “medically unnecessary and deferrable operations and therapies” and, referring to CEDAW condemning IGM in Germany, also “legal steps [...] to prohibit” such practices.)

“Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reviews report of Germany (UN press relase 25.09.2018)
[...]
Follow-up Questions
[...] The Experts were very concerned that unnecessary operations continued to be performed on intersex children and asked what was being done to prevent such medical interventions taking place.”
[...]
Responses by the Delegation
[...]
The delegation explained that [...] Data on surgeries performed on intersex children were not being collected, but the Government had agreed that medical intervention could only be carried out if there was a risk to the child’s life or health, and would bring forward such legislation.
[...]”

StopIGM.org/Zwischengeschlecht.org applauds the national human rights institution (NHRI) German Institute for Human Rights for its continued efforts to report IGM practices to relevant human rights bodies.

Hopefully, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) will now go beyond previous limited recommendations on intersex and IGM falling short of adequately recognising the serious violations of non-derogable human rights constituted by genital mutilation, harmful practices and cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment perpetrated on intersex children in University hospitals around the globe, but will explicitly oblige Germany to criminalise or adequately sanction IGM practices in its upcoming Concluding observations for Germany due later this month – in line with the 2016 CESCR General comment No. 22 highlighting States' non-derogable "obligation to protect", namely “to prohibit and take measures to prevent [...] medically unnecessary, irreversible and involuntary surgery and treatment performed on intersex infants or children” (E/C.12/GC/22, para 59).

UPDATE!! While still falling short of General comment 22 stressing the (non-derogable) "obligation to protect" everybody from genital mutilation, forced sterilisation etc. (in line with CAT, CCPR etc.), CESCR at least explicitly called for legal prohibition of IGM practices in Germany: "The Committee recommends that the State party take necessary measures to prohibit medically unnecessary gender confirmation surgery on intersex infants" (E/C.12/DEU/CO/6, para 24-25) Unfortunately, the language ("gender confirmation surgery") is severely misleading, however typical for the way how trans issues ("transgender-persons") are also lumped in.

>>> Intersex: How to Distinguish Medical Crimes from Health Care

>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 38 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee-CCPR) condemns IGM Practices

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

[ Français ]  [ Deutsch ]

Photo: Nonviolent Intersex Protest by StopIGM.org, Geneva 25 January 2009   #CEDAW43

As a result of the work of, and in consultation with StopIGM.org/Zwischengeschlecht.org, a Motion (french, PDF) has been filed in the Great Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva by Members of Parliament of the Party "Ensemble à Gauche", which calls for a legal prohibition of Intersex Genital Mutilations (IGM), to provide free psychosocial support for intersex people and their families, to investigate cases of IGM in Geneva, and to pay compensation to IGM survivors.

The Motion explicitly refers to similar stipulations in the 2012 recommendations of the Swiss National Bioethics Commission (NEK-CNE), the so far 4 UN reprimands to Switzerland for IGM, namely by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) as the Treaty body monitoring the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), as well as to the renewed investigation of IGM in Switzerland by CAT – all of them direct results of the work of StopIGM.org/Zwischengeschlecht.org.

The full text of the Motion in English:

[ E s p a ñ o l ]

On the way to the CEDAW70 examination of Mexico: Place des Nations, Geneva 06.07.2018

Monday 23.07.2018 has been a particularly good day for intersex human rights – literally around the globe! On this day the 70th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) unmistakably and publicly condemned intersex genital mutilation and lack of adequate support for intersex children and their families as serious human rights violations in no less than four countries in South America, Oceania and Europe – namely Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Liechtenstein! YAY!!!!

We welcome these clear verdicts, marking
  • the 1st UN reprimand for IGM for both Mexico and Liechtenstein
  • the 2nd UN reprimand for IGM for both Australia and New Zealand
  • the 1st ever UN reprimand for extraterritorial violations connected to IGM
  • the 8th-11th reprimand for IGM by UN CEDAW
  • in total 36 UN Treaty body reprimands for IGM so far 
  • now 22 states reprimanded in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

StopIGM.org together with Brújula Intersexual and Vivir y Ser Intersex in collaboration with Adiòs Al Futuro and Intersex y Andrógino submitted an extensive Intersex NGO report for Mexico demonstrating the ongoing practice and the complicity of the State party's public health system, as well as further Intersex NGO reports for New Zealand and Liechtenstein by StopIGM.org highlighting extraterritorial violations, and briefed Committee members on all countries in public and private hearings and/or personal communications. Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) submitted an Intersex NGO report for Australia.

Analysis: IGM = Crime, NOT “Health Care”

These latest binding recommendations on intersex and IGM first published on 23.07.2018 by the UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW) strongly re-affirm the non-derogable obligations of State parties on all continents and in all regions to

• “Adopt necessary provisions explicitly prohibiting the performance of unnecessary surgical or other medical treatment on intersex children until they reach an age when they can give their free, prior and informed consent” 

• “provide families of intersex children with adequate counselling and support”
  

• “provide redress to intersex persons having undergone medical treatment” 

This is a timely reminder that – unlike “clear legislative provisions explicitly prohibiting” IGM – mere “self-regulation” by the current perpetrators (i.e. doctors, medical bodies and Ministries of Health)  a.k.a. “new Health Care Protocols” won't stop IGM nor end the impunity of IGM practitioners and accessories, as such protocols constitute only “limited provisions” and in no way “effective” means to prevent further pain and suffering caused by IGM and the lack of adequate support.

We particularly welcome that CEDAW70 overwhelmingly recognised IGM and the lack of adequate support for intersex people and families to constitute “harmful practices” according to the Convention (just like e.g. FGM, forced marriage or “honour killings”), namely in the case of Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, explicitly referring to CEDAW art. 5(a) and the CEDAW-CRC Joint General Recommendation No. 31/18 on harmful practices. And that the Committee explicitly criticised “lack of effective remedies” and lack of access to “redress” for IGM survivors in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, and for these countries further explicitly stipulated to “provide families of intersex children with adequate counselling and support”.

While we deeply regret that in the case of the Concluding Observations for Liechtenstein the Committee referred not to CEDAW art. 5 (stereotypes and harmful practices) but to art. 12 (health), we recognise that CEDAW nonetheless obliged all countries – including Liechtenstein! – to “specifically prohibit” IGM practices a.k.a. non-consensual unnecessary genital surgery and other procedures on intersex children. (Though we really wish the Committee hadn't again in the case of Liechtenstein wrongly referred to IGM practices as “sex reassignment surgery”, as this is seriously misleading (PDF, p. 8-9)).

And we particularly welcome that in the case of Liechtenstein the Committee for the first time reprimanded a State party for extraterritorial violations connected to IGM (as the small country of Liechtenstein sends its intersex children to specialised contractual clinics in neighbouring states to be submitted to IGM, namely to Switzerland and Austria, see NGO Report (PDF), p. 10-14), and that CEDAW70 further raised extraterritorial violations during its examination of New Zealand in Geneva, as also New Zealand is sending intersex children abroad for IGM, namely to RCH Melbourne in Australia (see NGO Report (PDF), p. 10-13). Further known countries involved in extraterritorial violations connected to IGM include Luxembourg sending children to Belgium, as well as Ireland to the UK – and Malta to both.
      

CEDAW70: All Intersex Recommendations + Reports

1.  Mexico: Binding CEDAW70 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Concl Obs: CEDAW/C/MEX/CO/9, 20 July 2018, para 21 – 22
>>> IGM in Mexico: Intersex NGO Report (PDF) | Summary (PDF)
>>> Testimony: IGM State-sponsored - Gov Fails to Act

Harmful practices

21.    The Committee notes with concern:

The limited provisions prohibiting unnecessary medical procedures on intersex children and the inadequate support and lack of effective remedies for intersex persons, who have undergone medically unnecessary surgical procedures.

22.    In light of the joint general recommendation/general comment No. 31 of the Committee and No. 18 of the Committee of the Rights of the Child on harmful practices (2014), the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a)    Adopt necessary provisions explicitly prohibiting the performance of unnecessary surgical or other medical treatment on intersex children until they reach an age when they can give their free, prior and informed consent; and provide families of intersex children with adequate counselling and support.
        

2.  Australia: Binding CEDAW70 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Concl Obs: CEDAW/C/AUS/CO/8, 20 July 2018, paras 25(c) – 26(c)
>>> IGM in Australia: Intersex NGO Report (PDF) 

Harmful practices

25.    The Committee takes note of the State party’s commitment to provide women who are victims of forced marriage with support, regardless of their cooperation with the prosecution authorities. It is concerned, however, at:

[…]

(c)    The conduct of medically unnecessary procedures on intersex infants and children before they reach an age when they are able to provide their free, prior and informed consent, and at inadequate support and counselling for families with intersex children and remedies for victims;

[…]

26.    Recalling the Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on harmful practices, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure adequate protection and support to victims of forced marriage regardless of their collaboration with the prosecution authorities, and:

[…]

(c)    Adopt clear legislative provisions explicitly prohibiting the performance of unnecessary surgical or other medical treatment on intersex children before they reach the legal age of consent, implement the recommendations of the 2013 Senate inquiry on involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex persons, provide families with intersex children with adequate counselling and support, and provide redress to intersex persons having undergone medical treatment;

[...]
  

3.  New Zealand: Binding CEDAW70 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Concl Obs: CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8, 20 July 2018, paras 23(c) – 24(c)
>>> IGM in New Zealand: Intersex NGO Report (PDF) | Summary (PDF)
>>> Gov Lies + Denies: TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO of Intersex Q&A in Geneva, 12.07.2018

Discriminatory stereotypes and harmful practices

23.    While noting the efforts made by the State party to eliminate negative stereotypes affecting women, the Committee expresses concerns at:

[…]

(c)        The conduct of medically unnecessary procedures on intersex infants and children before they reach an age when they are able to provide their free, prior and informed consent, and at inadequate support and counselling for families with intersex children and remedies for victims.

24.    The Committee recommends that the State party […]

[…]

(c)        Adopt clear legislative provisions explicitly prohibiting the performance of unnecessary surgical or other medical treatment on intersex children before they reach the legal age of consent, provide families with intersex children with adequate counselling and support, and provide redress to intersex persons having undergone medical treatment.
    

4.  Liechtenstein: Binding CEDAW70 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Concl Obs: CEDAW/C/LIE/CO/5, 20 July 2018, paras 35 + 36(c)
>>> IGM in Liechtenstein: Intersex NGO Report (PDF) 
>>> Testimony: Extraterritorial Violations (PDF) | UN Web TV (44'45'')

[...]

35.    […] The Committee is further concerned about the performance of medically irreversible sex reassignment surgery on intersex persons from Liechtenstein in neighbouring countries at its request. […]

36.    The State party should:

[…]

(c)    Specifically prohibit non-consensual sex reassignment surgery on intersex persons and develop and implement a rights-based health-care protocol for intersex children that requires their informed consent about the performance of medically irreversible sex reassignment surgery;

[…]    

>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condemn IGM
• 36 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

CEDAW70 examining New Zealand @ Palais des Nations, Geneva 12.07.2018

At the 70th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in addition to Mexico, Liechtenstein and Australia, on Thursday 12 July also New Zealand was questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilations – thanks to an >>> NGO report by StopIGM.org who also briefed Committee members in Geneva. As per usual, New Zealand ignored human rights obligations to ban the ongoing mutilations, announcing more funding for the perpetrators instead ...

Session 2, Thu 12.07.2018, 15-17h

>>> Archived VIDEO of entire session @ webtv.un.org

Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (CEDAW Vice-Chairperson and Head of Task Force for NZ) (Video @ 00:51:02) raises IGM and extraterritorial violations.
Unofficial Transcript: 

"Secondly, an issue that is also related in fact to stereotypes [i.e. CEDAW art. 5, harmful practices], and that is the practice of the unnecessary medical or hormonal interventions that are imposed on intersex girls without their prior and informed consent. This issue was also brought up in the CRC, and it was also alerted that New Zealand not only practices this in the State party itself but also sends young children, very young children to undergo these operations out of New Zealand. So I would like you to address this issue, thank you.

Heather Janet Logie (Head of NZ Delegation, Under-Secretary for Justice) (Video @ 00:53:29) non-answers on intersex children, claims governement-funded perpetrators (specialised “paediatrics organisation”) best suited to tackle the “practice”, ignores question on extraterritorial violations.
Unofficial Transcript:

"In relation to the protection of the bodily integrity of intersex children and babies in our country, I would like to particularly thank you for raising that, and to commend our human rights commission for acting to bring together a roundtable of medical practitioners, paediatricians, intersex people, family members and parliamentarians to start the process to change that practice in New Zealand, and that that has resulted in the establishment of a ministry of health funding a new paediatrics organisation focused in this area and that we are, while this is not formally on the government's agenda, there is certainly, we are watching what is happening."

Tellingly, the mentioned New Zealand Human Rights Commission's 2017 Pre-Session NHRI Report to CEDAW misaddresses IGM – and also FGM and involuntary sterilisation – as a “Health” issue (CEDAW art. 12), whereas CEDAW overwhelmingly considers IGM a harmful practice (CEDAW art. 5(a)). Also the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) already recognised IGM in New Zealand to constitute a harmful practice (CRC art. 24(3)). On the other hand, the NZHRC 2018 CEDAW NHRI Report only mentioned intersex once – in the context of “self-identities of sex, gender, and sexually diverse people”. IGM = Violence, Torture and a Harmful Practice – NOT "Health Care“ or "Identity"!

>>> IGM in New Zealand: 2018 CEDAW NGO Report | Summary

>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 32 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of Integrity
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) to examine IGM Practices
• CAT 2011: Germany must investigate IGM practices and compensate survivors!

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

[ Français ]   [ Deutsch ] 

click to enlarge!

Intersex and IGM in Mexico   # UN CEDAW 70
"Fragments. An Intersex experience" (Mexico 2018)
Shortfilm + Talk
with Adiós Al Futuro (Proyecto Intersexual, Mexico)
Daniela Truffer & Markus Bauer (StopIGM.org)
Geneva 2 July 2018
18:30h @ ApsaraArts
Cultural space at the heart of quartier Pâquis
43, rue de Neuchâtel • 1201 Genève
Tram 15 stop Môle (or stop Cornavin and 5min walk)
Bus 1 stop Place de la Navigation 

« it's a cut
I had a catheter
it was extremely painful »

The first week in July, in Geneva the UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW) will examine intersex genital mutilations in Mexico, thanks to a collaborative NGO report from Mexico and Switzerland.

Mexican intersex visual artist Adiós Al Futuro (Proyecto Intersexual) will testify before the Committee, and will present and discuss her short film "Fragments. An Intersex experience" (Mexico 2018, 10 minutes, Spanish with English subtitles) – an unflinching look at IGM in Mexico, partly based on testimony from Mexican NGOs Brújula Intersexual and Vivir y Ser Intersex, co-rapporteurs to CEDAW.

With an introduction to intersex, IGM and human rights at the UN and on a global scale by Daniela Truffer and Markus Bauer, co-rapporteurs for StopIGM.org.

See also:
• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condemn IGM
• 32 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting ...

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Historical Overview • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents