Intersex Genital Mutilation: UN-CCPR reprimands Belgium, Mexico

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Photo: Nonviolent Intersex Protest @ UNHRC UPR #14, Geneva 20.10.2012

Zwischengeschlecht.org on FacebookIGM = Torture, NOT 'Discrimination' or 'Gender Identity'During its 127th Session in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) as the Treaty body monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) examined the human rights record of Belgium and Mexico, questioning both States specifically on “intersex genital mutilation”. Both State parties vehemently denied the obvious, and tried to change the subject from IGM to “discrimination”, “trans and inter-specific health care” or “conditions of gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation” and “diseases of sexual differentiation”.

Intersex advocates welcome that the Committee now unmistakably condemned IGM practices in both Belgium and Mexico as a serious violation of non-derogable human rights, including by explicitly referring to the non-derogable CCPR art. 7 covering cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment falling under the absolute prohibition of torture, as well as non-consensual medical or scientific experimentation, and obliging both States to take all “necessary measures” to “eliminate” IGM practices.

These latest reprimands for IGM practices by a UN treaty body mark
• already the 2nd reprimand for IGM for both Belgium and Mexico,
• the 3rd and 4th reprimand for IGM by CCPR,
• now 48 UN reprimands condemning IGM as a serious violation of non-derogable human rights.

Intersex NGOs StopIGM.org, Brújula Intersexual, Vivir y Ser Intersex and Intersex Belgium have been submitting substantial evidence of ongoing IGM practices in both countries, resulting in CCPR taking up the issue.

Please find below the full binding intersex recommendations for both Belgium and Mexico, as well as links to the evidence submitted to the Committee and to the shocking denials and excuses of both States when questioned by the Committee in Geneva:

Belgium

2019 CCPR Belgium NGO Intersex IGMIGM in Belgium: 2019 CCPR Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Reprod. Anatomy
IGM in Belgium • Complicity of the State • Inhuman Treatment
>>> Download as PDF (581 kb)

>>> CCPR127 Belgium: Full Session Report, Transcripts, Videos
>>> CCPR Timeline Belgium 2019

Belgium: Full Binding CCPR127 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Full Concl Obs:
CCPR/C/BEL/CO/6, paras 21-22

[Unofficial translation from original French]

[…] intersex

21. The Committee notes with concern that children with intersex variations at birth may undergo invasive and irreversible medical procedures aimed at assigning them to a sex, that these procedures are often based on a stereotypical view of the roles of the sexes and that they are performed before they are of age to give their free and informed consent (arts. 3, 7, 9, 9, 17, 24 and 26).

22. The State party should take the necessary measures to put an end to irreversible medical procedures, in particular surgical procedures, performed on intersex children who are not yet able to give their free and informed consent, except where such procedures are absolutely medically necessary.

Mexico

2018 CRC Italy NGO (for PSWG) Intersex IGMIGM in Mecico: 2019 CCPR Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Repr. Anatomy
IGM in Mexico • Complicity of the State • Inhuman Treatment
>>> Download as PDF (636 kb) | Español (670 kb) 

>>> CCPR127 Mexico: Full Session Report, Transcripts, Videos
>>> CCPR Timeline Mexico 2019

Mexico: Full Binding CCPR127 Intersex Recommendations
>>> Download Full Concl Obs:
CCPR/C/MEX/CO/6, paras 12-13

[Unofficial translation from original Spanish]

12. […] Despite the explanation provided by the State party’s delegation, the Committee is concerned about reports of irreversible and invasive medical interventions on intersex children (arts. 2, 6, 7, 17 and 26).

13. […] The State party should increase its efforts to combat stereotypes and prejudices against […] intersex persons and to ensure that acts of discrimination and violence against them are prevented. It should also move towards the elimination of irreversible medical treatment, in particular surgical treatment of intersex children, who are not yet in a position to give fully informed and free consent, unless such procedures are absolutely medically necessary.

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

See also:
‘Only the Fear of the Judge Will Make IGM Perpetrators Change’
“Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
48 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting …
UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice + Violence
UN Committee against Torture (CAT): 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) condemns IGM Practices

IGM as a Harmful Practice: 2015 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 is a Harmful Practice
>>> Download PDF (3.14 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

Eliminating IGM practices by holding the perpetrators accountable via well-established applicable human rights frameworks, including Inhuman Treatment and Harmful Practices – Presentation @ UN expert meeting on Intersex Human Rights
>>> Download PDF (831kb)

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