On Wednesday 8th June, representatives from the International NGO Council on Genital Autonomy (INGOCGA) led an online discussion on their new report, supported by the NSS, which calls on the United Nations to take greater steps to eliminate all forms of non-consensual, non-therapeutic genital cutting.
Every year, millions of children are forcibly subjected to permanent and painful cutting of their genitals for religious or cultural reasons.
While increasing numbers of countries give girls legal protection from all forms of non-therapeutic genital cutting (female genital mutilation), not a single country affords similar protections to boys.
Secular Medical Forum chair Dr Antony Lempert and Canadian government medical adjudication consultant Kira Antinuk explained why forced genital cutting is a violation of children's fundamental rights, including freedom of religion or belief, and dispelled some of the myths surrounding FGM and male circumcision. They also shared ideas on what needs to happen to ensure all children, whatever their sex or cultural background, are given equal rights to make decisions about their bodies for themselves.
You can watch the video of the discussion here.
Continue reading @ National Secular Society.
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