Intersex Genital Mutilations, Stigma and Bullying in Nepal (1/4)

UPDATE! 09.06.2016: UN-CRC reprimanded Nepal for IGM and Bullying! 

Photo: 1st Intersex National Workshop, Kathmandu 8-9 February 2016

This week, at the 72nd Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Nepal is first up for review of Intersex Human Rights including the “growing practice of Intersex Genital Mutilations” on Thur 19 May 15:00-18:00h CET [Nepal: 18:45-21:45h] + Fri 20 May 10:00-13:00h CET [Nepal: 12:45-16:45h] – archived on treatybodywebcast.org!
Next week: The UK …
  

    TABLE OF CONTENTS “Intersex Genital Mutilations, Stigma and Bullying in Nepal”
    1.  Background: 1st Intersex Workshop, Intersex Stories Book, 2016 CRC NGO Report
    2.  Intersex Genital Mutilations in Nepali Paediatric Hospitals
         a) IGM in Publications by Doctors and Hospitals
         b) IGM in Witnesses Accounts
    3.  Denial of Needed Health Care
    4.  Stigma, Bullying and Isolation
     •   Nepal questioned over IGM by UN Child Rights Committee – Gov denies 
 

1.  Background: Intersex National Workshop, Intersex Stories Book,
     2016 CRC NGO Report
    

1st Intersex National Workshop, Kathmandu 2016
Sharing Stories • Key Human Rights Issues • Recommendations 
>>>  via medium.com

On 8-9 February, a meeting of 13 intersex adolescents and adults from across Nepal took place, where they shared their stories and exchanged with representatives from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal (NHRC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF, as well as with legal experts.

Key Human Rights Issues identified include:  

• Intersex genital mutilation as a growing practice in Nepal
• Lack of access to necessary health care
  
• Lack of information and access to reproductive health
• Bullying and isolation in schools

Key Recommendations include:  

• Prohibit medically unnecessary surgery and procedures without informed consent
• Ensure training for medical professionals on the health care needs and human rights of intersex people
• Ensure counselling and support to intersex people and their families
• Support and implement awareness raising activities on intersex issues throughout Nepal, including in rural areas and in schools

“The meeting culminated with a panel session featuring UNICEF, UNDP, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal as well as the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare […]

Basudev Bajgain of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal spoke about how the intersex community […] are facing discrimination even within the LGBTI community. […] ”
 

Stories of Intersex People from Nepal
Compiled by: Esan Regmi
Translated by: Parsu Ram Rai
>>>  Download (PDF 932 kb)

This publication includes 9 personal stories of intersex people in Nepal (of about 2 pages each), based upon submissions in writing by intersex persons themselves during the 1st Intersex National Meeting (see above). They substantiate amongst others the following two of the above key issues: Lack of access to necessary health care and Bullying and isolation in schools (for references and quotes, see below 3. and 4.). The book however does not substantiate ”IGM as a growing practice in Nepal” (see below 2.).
  

NGO Report to the 3rd to 5th Periodic Report of Nepal on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Compiled by: Blue Diamond Society / Esan Regmi and Parsu Ram Rai
>>>  Download (DOCX 29 kb)

“In response to Intersex issues, there is no legal provision in Nepal on any rights towards Intersex Child. […] Major problem is their identification, stigma, discrimination […] The community people think that is the curse of past life and they are not aware of the existence of intersex people in normal life. […] there is no such organization to advocate for the Intersex issues in Nepal.”

In line with the 1st Intersex National Workshop, the report makes the following

Major Recommendations:

• Freedom to choose their gender identity based on sexual orientation
• Change in the official documents as per the gender identity (Registration during the birth)
• Forced treatment in intersex should be banned
• Stop unnecessary surgical and medical treatment
• Proper counselling should be done prior pre and posttest as per the need to the children
• Give intersex people full access to their medical reports
• Raise public awareness and improve professional trainings about the problems encountered by intersex people

The report contains 1 personal story, which substatiates identification document issues, stigma and bullying (see also below 4.). The report however does not substantiate IGM practices, including Denial of needed health care (see below 2. and 3.). 

The Nepali Intersex NGO Report was supported by an informal >>> Letter of Endorsement and Substantiation (PDF 328 kb) by StopIGM.org to the Task Force on Nepal of Committee on the Rights of the Child, referencing below parts 2., 3. and 4.

On 19–20 May 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child questioned Nepal over IGM practices, stigma and discrimination of intersex children, with the head of the Nepali delegation first simply ignoring the question at all, then after a reminder issueing a denial and deflecting to civil status registration “other than male or female”.

 
    TABLE OF CONTENTS “Intersex Genital Mutilations, Stigma and Bullying in Nepal”
    1.  Background: 1st Intersex Workshop, Intersex Stories Book, 2016 CRC NGO Report
    2.  Intersex Genital Mutilations in Nepali Paediatric Hospitals
         a) IGM in Publications by Doctors and Hospitals
         b) IGM in Witnesses Accounts
    3.  Denial of Needed Health Care
    4.  Stigma, Bullying and Isolation
    •   Nepal questioned over IGM by UN Child Rights Committee – Gov denies 
 
See also:
• 11 Verdicts by UN Treaty Bodies Condemning IGM – And Counting …
• UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC) 2015: IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
• UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) to examine IGM Practices
• UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) condems IGM
• Historic 56th Session of Committee against Torture reprimands 4 Governments over IGM 
• 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