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Stigma, Bullying and Isolation: Intersex in Nepal (4/4)

June 26, 2022May 19, 2016 by StopIGM.org

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 Mutilation, 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

4. Stigma, Bullying and Isolation

“[T]here is no understanding of intersex issues in Nepal among the public. 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. The community is never aware and there is no such organization to advocate for the Intersex issues in Nepal.” Source: 2016 CRC Nepal Intersex NGO Report (p. 2)

As the Nepali Intersex NGO Report points out, the taboo of intersex as a natural biological variation in human and animals leads to discrimination and stigma pervading everyday life in Nepal.

Further, a publication by a specialised surgeon indicates that e.g. for Nepali men with hypospadias their penis is considered to render them unfit for marriage despite normal fertility, thus before being able to “seeing girls”, first they would require “hypospadias repair surgery” in order to obtain “clearance to go ahead with marriage”.

Last but not least, as each and every one of the personal stories collected on occasion of the 1st Intersex National Workshop and published as e-book substantiates, for Nepali intersex children and adolescents this lack of education of the public results in considerable bullying and isolation particularly in school, in several cases even leading to the child being prevented from finishing school.

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

Relevant excerpts from the 9 personal stories after the break:

Intersex Genital Mutilations in Nepali Paediatric Hospitals (2/4)

August 1, 2022May 18, 2016 by StopIGM.org

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

“All children underwent tubularized incised plate urethroplasty”

   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

2. Intersex Genital Mutilations in Nepali Paediatric Hospitals

SUMMARY: Despite that the 1st Intersex National Workshop identified “Intersex genital mutilation as a growing practice in Nepal” and recommended to “Prohibit medically unnecessary surgery and procedures without informed consent”, seconded by the 2016 NGO Report to CRC, no research or documentation on IGM practices in Nepal could be found.

While far from exhaustive, this section thus collects evidence, so far substantiating

IGM1 “Masculinising Genital Corrections” incl. “Hypospadias Repair” regular practiced in at least 2 Nepali children’s clinics in Kathmandu and Basundhara, as well possibly also in non-paediatric clinics in other regions

the recently achieved capability for laparoscopic gonadectomies a.k.a IGM3 Sterilising Procedures in at least 1 children’s clinic in Kathmandu

doctors and clinics openly advertising IGM1 as beneficient and safe, and aiming to expand the practice within the (positive) overall drive to allow more children access to (necessary) paediatric treatments

Witness accounts from Nepal further link IGM1 to 2 additional Government and University Children’s Clinics in Kathmandu and Dhulikel.

a) IGM in Publications by Nepali Doctors and Hospitals

Kanti Children’s Hospital (Kathmandu):
• IGM 1 “Hypospadias Repair”
• Capability for IGM3 Sterilising Procedures (“Laporoscopic Gonadectomy”).
Source: Hospital Homepage, http://kantichildrenhospital.gov.np/paedratic-surgery/

“We have started performing Snodgra[ss] TIP Urethroplasty for proximal penile hypospadias“

“We feel proud to mention that we have started dedicated pediatric laparoscopic surgical services this year.”

“Facilities available at surgical unit:
[…]
Pediatric Laparoscopic Surgery.
Pediatric Urology. […]”

Kanti Government Children’s Hospital (Kathmandu) and BP Smriti Hospital (Basundhara):
• IGM 1 “Hypospadias Repair” practiced regularly
Source: Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(1):29-33, http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JNPS/article/view/8692

“A total of 46 male children 18 months to 10 years age with penile hypospadias were included in this study from January 2011 to January 2013 in Kanti Children’s Hospital and BP Smriti Hospital. Only distal and mid penile hypospadias with good and wide urethral plate were included. All children underwent tubularized incised plate urethroplasty described by Snodgrass. Hypospadias with moderate to severe chordee were excluded.”

“Each patient was assessed on the 8th-10th postoperative day after removal of the catheter and during their first follow-up on two weeks after discharge. Assessment was done on the basis complications like urethrocutaneous fistula, meatal stenosis, cosmetic look of penis and glans and urinary stream.”

“The overall complication rate requiring surgical intervention was 8 (17.3%). Mean duration of surgery was 66 minutes (60-80 minutes). Urethrocutaneous fistula occurred in 5 (10.8%), meatal stenosis in 1 (2.1%) and wound dehiscence in 2 (4.3%) patient.”

“Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty is a simple, single stage surgery for distal hypospadias. It gives good functional neourethra of normal looking glans and meatus with a low rate of complications like urethrocutaneous fistula, stricture. It is our preferred method of repairing distal and midpenile hypospadias in our institution.”

N O T E : This articles gives NO INDICATION at all of any mean follow-up time! Arguably follow-time was in maximum the 24 months of the study – with severe and dangerous complications, particularly urethral strictures and stenoses, drastically increasing only later in life …

B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (Dharan)
• IGM 1 “Hypospadias Repair” practiced regularly
[on persons of unkown age, see N O T E below]
Source: Plastic Surgery International, Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 870902, http://www.hindawi.com/journals/psi/2011/870902/

“B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, is the only tertiary care referral centre in the eastern region of Nepal. This paper discusses the author’s experience of starting a plastic surgery unit in eastern Nepal regarding need and present status of plastic surgery care in Nepal. Methods. We analyzed the data of patients treated in Plastic surgery unit from July 2007 to February 2009. We did evaluation regarding type of patients, procedures, and their outcome.”

“Other congenital anomalies included clefts [1] and hypospadias [2] hands and foot anomalies (Figure 4).”

Table 4: Details of various plastic surgery procedures.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Cleft    n = 7
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Cleft lip repair    4
Palatoplasty    1
cleft lip nose rhinoplasty    2
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[…]
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Genitourinary reconstructions    n = 1 2
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hypospadias repair    8
Penile fracture    1
Filarial scrotum and penis    3
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[…]
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hand and upper extremity reconstruction    n = 3 9
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[…]
Polydactyly    1
[…]
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[…]”

“Our observation shows that the role of plastic surgeon becomes more vital in centres where other specialty services are lacking, as plastic surgeons can handle variety of situations because of their training [2]:
[…]
(vi) quality management of hypospadias/epispadias patients in absence of urosurgeons/paediatric surgeons,
[…]

There is increasing demand for plastic surgery services because of growing public awareness for complete cure, reduction of morbidity, and limitation of deformity which indirectly helps in productivity of population. […]”

N O T E : The article doesn’t contain any reference to actual outcomes of the “Hypospadias repair,” nor to the age of the “patients”. The grouping together with “clefts [1] and […] hands and foot anomalies (Figure 4)” however may indicate an increased probability of involuntary treatments on children.

b) IGM in Witnesses Accounts

Esan Regmi and Parsu Ram Rai, the authors of the Thematic Intersex NGO Report to CRC, reported during a skype interview on 16.05.2015 that, while visiting the hospitals in question as patients, witnesses personally known to them recently learned of further cases of IGM1 “Masculinising Surgeries” in the following clinics:

Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital (Dulikel):
3 children (aged 20 months, 5 years, and 7 years)

National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital (Kathmandu):
1 child (aged 13 years)

   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

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

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 in Geneva 26.–27.10.2015
>>> Download PDF (831kb)

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

March 21, 2021May 16, 2016 by StopIGM.org

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

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

    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!

Mauro Cabral: “We need an intersex version of the principles”

March 21, 2021May 15, 2016 by StopIGM.org

Photo: Daniela Truffer (left) holding placard of Mauro Cabral showing his abdominal scars from IGM @ Nonviolent Intersex Protest #4 vs. ‘5th I-DSD’ + ‘D$Dnet’, Ghent 11.06.2015

>>> Great interview with Mauro Cabral on the Yogyakarta Principles. Unfortunately not mentioned in the article:

In addition to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Health, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the UN Committee against torture and other UN treaty bodies have SO FAR 11 TIMES reprimanded Governments in Europe, South America and Asia over Intersex Genital Mutilations, each time classifying IGM as a “harmful practice” (just like FGM) or as “inhuman treatment” in breach of the Convention against Torture, insisting all contracting states must “take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures” BOTH to outlaw the practice AND to ensure access of survivors to reparations and justice.

Other international human rights bodies to condemn IGM practices include WHO, UNICEF and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). How much longer?!

UN Reprimand France over Intersex Genital Mutilations – UK up next

March 21, 2021May 14, 2016 by StopIGM.org

>>> Français

Intersex Human Righs Defenders, 57th Session UN Committee against Torture (CAT):
Vincent Guillot (France, IGM survivor), Daniela Truffer (StopIGM.org, IGM survivor), Markus Bauer (StopIGM.org). To their right in front of her laptop, with back to the camera Sapana Pradhan-Malla (Nepal, CAT member), above her left, all in the back in the center of the glass wall Jens Modvig (Denmark, CAT chairperson and Co-Rapporteur for France), who both expertly questioned the French delegation on IGM practices – THANK YOU!!

Press Release by StopIGM.org 14.05.2016

      1. Committee against Torture reprimands France for IGM Practices
      2. Next in line: The UK
      3. Background: The UN Condemn Intersex Genital Mutilations

1. Committee against Torture reprimands France for IGM Practices

StopIGM.org warmly welcomes the binding 2016 “Concluding Observations” of the UN Committee against Torture for France:
>>> CAT/C/FRA/CO/7, PDF, French, on Intersex: p. 7, paras. 32-33

The Committee once more unmistakably denounced IGM practices as serious crimes clearly in breach of the Convention against Torture and constituting at least Inhuman Treatment, referring to art. 2, 12, 14, 16 of the Convention.

StopIGM.org particularly appreciates that the Committee specifically obliged France to “take the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to guarantee the respect for the physical integrity and autonomy of intersex persons”, and “to undertake measures to ensure redress for victims, including adequate compensation”.

And to “ensure access to psychosocial counselling and support for persons concerned, their parents and care givers free of charge“ and “to investigate cases of medical or surgical treatments of intersex persons without their informed consent”.

This marks the 11th time that a UN Treaty Body condemns IGM practices and reprimands a Government for tolerating and/or supporting these serious human rights violations.

In February 2016, France was already reprimanded for IGM practices by the UN Committee for the rights of the Child (CRC).

Intersex Genital Mutilations in France: 2016 UN-CAT Report
Human Rights Violations Of Persons With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Most Common Forms • What is Intersex? • Inhuman Treatment
>>> Download (PDF 3.71 MB)

2. Next in line: The UK

The next State up for review of IGM practices is the United Kingdom at the 72nd session of the Committee for the rights of the Child (CRC) on 23-24 May 2016.

Intersex Genital Mutilations in the UK: 2016 UN-CRC Report
Human Rights Violations Of Persons With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Most Common Forms • What is Intersex? • A Harmful Practice
>>> Download (PDF 3.60 MB)

States as contracting parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention against Torture and other applicable Covenants including CCPR and CRPD can no longer feign ignorance of the illegal nature of IGM practices, but now must take all appropriate measures including legislation to eliminate them, and to guarantee access to effective redress and justice for all IGM survivors!

The international intersex human rights NGO StopIGM.org demands the prohibition of forced genital surgeries on children and adolescents with Variations of Sex Anatomy and “Human Rights for Hermaphrodites too!”

Persons concerned shall later decide themselves, if they want surgeries or not, and if yes, which.

Kind regards

Daniela “Nella” Truffer +41 (0) 76 398 06 50
Markus Bauer +41 (0) 78 829 12 60
Founding members Zwischengeschlecht.org / StopIGM.org

presse_at_zwischengeschlecht.info

http://StopIGM.org

3. Background: The UN Condemn Intersex Genital Mutilations

Typical forms of IGM practices include “masculinising” and “feminising”, “corrective” genital surgery, castration and other sterilising procedures, imposition of hormones, forced genital exams, vaginal dilations, medical display, withholding crucial information from patients an parents, human experimentation, and denial of needed health care.

IGM Practices cause known lifelong severe physical and psychological pain and suffering, including loss or impairment of sexual sensation, painful scarring, painful intercourse, incontinence, urethral strictures, impairment or loss of reproductive capabilities, lifelong dependency of artificial hormones, significantly elevated rates of self-harming behaviour and suicidal tendencies, lifelong mental suffering and trauma, increased sexual anxieties, less sexual activity.

Since 1950, IGM has been practised systematically and on an industrial scale allover the “developed world”, with all typical IGM forms still practised today. Parents and children are misinformed, kept in the dark, sworn to secrecy, kept isolated and denied appropriate support.

For more than 20 years, survivors have criticised IGM practices as harmful and traumatising, as a fundamental human rights violation, as a form of genital mutilation and child sexual abuse, as torture or ill-treatment, and called for legislation to end it and to ensure remedies.

Since February 2015, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has repeatedly criticised unnecessary intersex treatments as a Harmful Practice and thus comparable to Female Genital Mutilation, and has so far reprimanded Switzerland, Chile, France and Ireland for failing to adopt necessary legislation to protect intersex children’s right to bodily integrity and to ensure equal access to remedies and justice for victims.

Similarly, since 2011 the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) recognised IGM practices as constituting at least Inhuman Treatment in violation of the Convention against Torture, and – in addition to France – so far reprimanded Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Hong Kong.

Other international human rights bodies to condemn IGM practices include WHO, UNICEF, the Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

>>> France Questioned over IGM Practices by the UN Committee against Torture
>>> “No law to protect intersex children from the daily mutilations in France”
>>> IGM = “Harmful Practice” + “Violence”: UN-CRC Reprimands France
>>> 11 Verdicts by UN Treaty Bodies Condemning IGM – And Counting …

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

Intersexes: Le Comité de l’ONU contre la Torture réprimande la France – Mutilations Génitales = “Traitement Inhumain” + “Torture”

March 21, 2021May 14, 2016 by StopIGM.org

>>> English

Témoignages sur MGI, 57ème Session du Comité de l’ONU contre la Torture (CAT):
Daniela Truffer (StopIGM.org), Vincent Guillot (France), Markus Bauer (StopIGM.org)
au Palais Wilson avant la 2ième session de la revue de la France, Genève 18.04.2016

Comuniqué de Presse par StopIGM.org 14.05.2016:

   1. Le Comité contre la Torture réprimande la France sur les pratiques MGI
         2. La réprimande intersexe CAT/C/FRA/CO/7 reproduite intégralement
     3. Contexte: l’ONU condamne les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes

Le Comité contre la Torture réprimande la France sur les pratiques MGI

StopIGM.org se félicite des “Observations finales” exécutoires du Comité de l’ONU contre la torture (CAT) pour la France:
 >>> CAT/C/FRA/CO/7, PDF 2.3 MB, Intersex: p. 7, paras. 32-33

Le Comité, se référant aux art. 2, 12, 14, 16 de la Convention contre la torture, a de nouveau reconnu que les pratiques MGI constituent au moins un Traitement inhumain en violation de la Convention contre la torture.

On apprécie particulièrement que le Comité ait spécifiquement fait appel à la France de “prendre des mesures législatives, administratives ou autres nécessaires pour garantir le respect de l’intégrité physique des personnes intersexuées”, et aussi “d’adopter des mesures afin d’accorder réparation à toutes les victimes, y compris une indemnisation adéquate”.

Et que le Comité en outre oblige la France de s’assurer d’“un accompagnement psychosocial gratuit pour les personnes concernées et leurs parents ou leurs proches” et d’“envisager des enquêtes sur les cas de traitements médicaux ou chirurgicaux que des personnes intersexuées auraient subis sans avoir donné leur consentement effectif et éclairé”.

C’est la 11ième fois déjà qu’un Comité de l’ONU condamne les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes et réprimande un gouvernement pour tolérer et/ou supporter ces violations graves des droits humains.

En Fevrier 2016, la France a est déjà reprimandé pour les pratiques MGI par le Comité de l’ONU des Droits de l’Enfant (CRC).

Tous Etats parties qui ont ratifié la Convention des Droits de l’Enfant, la Convention contre la Torture et d’autres pactes applicables, y compris CCPR et CRPD ne peuvent plus feindre l’ignorance de la nature illégale des pratiques MGI, mais doivent désormais prendre toutes mesures appropriées, y compris des dispositions législatives pour éliminer ces pratiques, et pour garantir l’accès à un recours efficace et à la justice pour tous les survivants de MGI!

Le groupe des droits humains international StopIGM.org exige l’interdiction des opérations génitales forcées sur des enfants et adolescents avec des variantes du sexe biologique et “Droits Humains pour les Hermaphrodites aussi!”

Les personnes concernées doivent pouvoir décider eux-mêmes plus tard, s’il veulent des opérations ou pas, et si oui, lesquelles.

Meilleures salutations

Daniela “Nella” Truffer +41 (0) 76 398 06 50
Markus Bauer +41 (0) 78 829 12 60
Membres fondateurs de l’ONG internationale StopIGM.org

presse@zwischengeschlecht.info

http://StopIGM.org

2. La réprimande intersexe CAT/C/FRA/CO/7 reproduite intégralement

>>> PDF 2.3 MB, sur Intersex: p. 7, paras. 32-33

Personnes intersexuées

32. Le Comité est préoccupé par les informations faisant état d’interventions chirurgicales non nécessaires et parfois irréversibles pratiquées sur des enfants intersexués sans le consentement éclairé de ces personnes ou de leurs proches et sans que toutes les options possibles leur aient toujours été exposées. Il est aussi préoccupé par le fait que ces interventions, qui entraîneraient des souffrances physiques et psychologiques, n’ont encore donné lieu à aucune enquête, sanction ou réparation. Il regrette l’absence d’informations sur les mesures législatives et administratives spécifiques permettant d’encadrer la situation des personnes intersexuées (art. 2, 12, 14, 16).

33. Le Comité recommande à l’Etat partie de:

prendre des mesures législatives, administratives ou autres nécessaires pour garantir le respect de l’intégrité physique des personnes intersexuées afin que nul ne soit soumis durant l’enfance à des traitements médicaux ou chirurgicaux visant à déterminer le sexe d’un enfant qui ne présentent aucun caractère d’urgence médicale;

s’assurer des services d’un conseil impartial et un accompagnement psychosocial gratuit pour les personnes concernées et leurs parents ou leurs proches;

veiller à ce qu’aucune intervention chirurgicale ou traitement médical ne soit effectué sans qu’un consentement plein, libre et éclairé n’ait été obtenu et que ces personnes, leurs parents ou leurs proches n’aient été informées sur les différentes options, y compris celle de reporter toute décision sur des traitements non nécessaire jusqu’à que la personne concernée puisse se prononcer par elle-même;

envisager des enquêtes sur les cas de traitements médicaux ou chirurgicaux que des personnes intersexuées auraient subis sans avoir donné leur consentement effectif et éclairé, et d’adopter des mesures afin d’accorder réparation à toutes les victimes, y compris une indemnisation adéquate;

conduire des études sur cette question afin de mieux la comprendre et la traiter.

3. Contexte: l’ONU condamne les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes

Les formes typiques de pratiques MGI comprennent des opérations génitales “masculinisantes” et “féminisantes”, des castrations et d’autres procedures stérilisantes, l’imposition d’hormones, des examens génitaux forcés, des dilatations vaginales et l’exhibition médicale, le refu des informations essentielles aux patients et aux parents, l’expérimentation humaine, et le déni de soins médicaux.

Il est connu que les pratiques MGI causent des douleurs et souffrances physiques ou mentales aiguës tout au long de la vie, y compris la perte ou détérioration des sensations sexuelles, des cicatrices douloureuses, le rapport sexuel douloureux, de l’incontinence, des sténoses urétrales, la perte ou détérioration de la fertilité, une dépendance à vie d’hormones artificiels, des taux élevés de manière signifiante de comportement d’automutilation et tendances suicidaires, souffrance mentale et traumatisme à vie, anxiétés sexuelles élevées, et moins d’activité sexuelle.

Depuis 1950, MGI a été pratiqué systématiquement et à l’échelle industrielle dans tout le “monde développé”, et toutes formes de MGI sont encore pratiquées aujourd’hui. Parents et enfants sont désinformés et tenus dans l’ignorance, tenus au secret, isolés et refusés un soutien approprié.

Depuis plus de 20 ans, des survivants ont critiqué les pratiques MGI comme préjudiciables et traumatisantes, comme une violation fondamentale des droits humains, comme une forme de mutilation génitale et d’abus sexuel de l’enfant, comme de la torture ou maltraitance, et ont demandé une législation pour éliminer ces pratiques et garantir des recours.

Dans les derniers douze mois, le Comité de l’ONU des Droits de l’Enfant (CRC) a à plusieurs reprises critiqué ces traitements inutiles des personnes intersex comme une Pratique Préjudiciable et par conséquent comparable aux Mutilations Génitales Féminines, et a pour l’instant réprimandé la Suisse et le Chili pour ne pas avoir protégé le droit des enfants intersex à l’intégrité physique et de ne pas avoir garanti un accès égal aux recours et à la justice pour les victimes.

De la même façon, le Comité de l’ONU contre la Torture (CAT) a reconnu depuis 2011 que les pratiques MGI constituent au moins un Traitement Inhumain en violation de la Convention contre la Torture, et a pour l’instant réprimandé l’Allemagne, la Suisse, l’Autriche, le Denmark et Hong Kong. D’autres organes de l’ONU qui condamnent MGI sont par example le Comité des droits de l’Homme (HRCttee), l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (WHO), UNICEF et le Rapporteur Spécial sur la Torture.

Rapport ONG au Comité contre la torture (2016):
Mutilations Génitales Intersexes en France
• 1ère partie: C’est pourquoi le Comité contre la torture va condamner la France
• 2ième partie: “Seule la peur du juge va bouger les choses”
• 3ième partie: Les médecins ignorent consciemment la question des droits humains

>>> Transcription: Le Comité contre la Torture (CAT) questionne la France sur les MGI
>>> Comuniqué de Presse de l’ONU aborde les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes en France
>>> « En France, aucune loi protège les enfants intersexes des mutilations quotidiennes »

>>> MGI = “Pratique Préjudiciable” + “Violence”: UN-CRC réprimande la France
>>> Mutilations Génitales Intersexes: La France questionnée par UN-CRC
>>> La Ministre Bloque et Détourne – Transcriptions des Questions et Réponses MGI

Intersex Genital Mutilations in France: CAT NGO Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM – Most Common Forms • What is Intersex? • How Common are IGMs?
>>> Download (PDF 3.71 MB)

Friday 13 May 2016 – A Good Day for Intersex Human Rights?

March 21, 2021May 13, 2016 by StopIGM.org

Photo: UNHRC UPR #14, Geneva 20.10.2012

Israel addresses Intersex Genital Mutilations during UN Human Rights Council Review of Ireland – Committee against Torture to reprimand France – Now 12 UN reprimands

Friday 13 May: A sign of hope for intersex children everywhere – and yet another stern warning for IGM perpetrators and complicit states? Keep your fingers crossed!

UPR: Ireland critisised over Intersex Genital Mutilations

All UN Member States have to submit regularly to a “Universal Periodic Review (UPR)” of their human rights records, reported by a “troika” of their peers and considered by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), who then adopts binding recommendations.

Despite that human rights violations of intersex people have been reported to the HRC since at least 2012, so far the HRC never specifically discussed intersex human rights concerns, let alone issued recommendations to stop IGM practices.

Most welcome therefore the news (thx ILGA) from the ongoing 25th session of the UPR Working Group where Israel went on record addressing IGM practices in its Statement regarding Ireland (PDF):

“Israel is concerned by the cases of medically unnecessary surgeries and other procedures on intersex children before they were able to provide their informed consent;”

The Human Rights Council will adopt the recommendations for Ireland today Friday 13 May 16–18h. [UPDATE: No recommendations on intersex were issued.]

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has recently reprimanded Ireland over IGM practices, considering them a “harmful practice” (like FGM) and calling on Ireland to “adopt legal provisions in order to provide redress to the victims of such treatment, including adequate compensation.”

CAT to reprimand France over IGM Practices – Done!

Also today Friday 13 May concludes the 57th Session of the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), which knowledgeably questioned France over IGM practices and is hoped to issue strong binding recommendations for France.
France was also recently reprimanded over IGM practices by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
UPDATE: UN-CAT reprimanded France over IGM! This marks the 11th reprimand by a UN Treaty Body to State complicit in the continuation of IGM.

12 Verdicts by UN Treaty Bodies Condemning IGM – And Counting …

The Committee against Torture (CAT) has repeatedly considered Intersex Genital Mutilations as constituting at least inhuman treatment in breach of the Convention against Torture, and since 2011 reprimanded Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong and France.

The Committee in the Rights of the Child (CRC) considers IGM as violence and a harmful practice (like FGM) and since 2015 reprimanded Switzerland, Chile, France and Ireland.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) also considers IGM as inhuman treatment and reprimanded Germany and Chile.

In all above 10 verdicts, the Committes issued binding recommendations to take legislative action to end the practice and/or to ensure access to redress and justice for IGM survivors.

In addition, the Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) as the governing body of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) is currently investigating IGM and called on Switzerland to disclose statistics.

>>> France Questioned over IGM Practices by the UN Committee against Torture
>>> French Gov: IGM-Perpetrators “best suited” to “prevent” Mutilations

>>> intersex.shadowreport.org

IGM as Torture or CIDT: UN-CAT Briefing
1. Personal Testimony – A Survivor’s Perspective
2. IGM Practices as Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrating Treatment (CIDT) 3. Recommendations
>>> Download PDF (1.7 MB) >>> Text only DOC

Why the UN Committee against Torture will reprimand France for Intersex Genital Mutilations, probably tomorrow Friday

March 21, 2021May 12, 2016 by StopIGM.org

>>> Français

France is currently up for review of IGM practices at the
57th session of the UN Committee against Torture (CAT).

“It must be duly noted that French paediatric surgeons are particularly adamant advocates of IGM practices, consciously dismissing to consider any human rights concerns, despite openly acknowledging knowledge of relevant criticisms by human rights and ethics bodies.” (CAT NGO Report, p. 11)

>>> France Questioned over IGM Practices by the UN Committee against Torture
>>> “No law to protect intersex children from the daily mutilations in France”
>>> UN Press Release on 57th CAT Session adresses IGM Practices in France
>>> IGM = “Harmful Practice” + “Violence”: UN-CRC Reprimands France

3ième partie: C’est pourquoi le Comité contre la Torture de l’ONU va condamner la France pour les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes (3)

June 6, 2022May 12, 2016 by StopIGM.org

>>> 1ere partie >>> 2ieme partie >>> SRT Report >>> Article Figaro >>> ESPU/SPU standpoint

Les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes (MGI) constituent un “traitement inhumain” explicitament interdit par la Convention contre la Torture (CAT).

Le rapport soumis par Vincent Guillot et l’ONG internationale intersex StopIGM.org explique pourqoi la 57ieme session Comité contre la Torture va condamner la France pour faciliter et promouvoir ces graves violations des droits humains (p. 11):

“ A.1.d) Les médecins français pratiquant les opérations MGI ignorent consciemment la question des droits humains

Il faut signaler que les chirurgiens pédiatriques français en particulier sont d’ardents défenseurs des pratiques MGI, déniant sciemment les questions de droits humains, malgré la connaissance du sujet que les critiques pertinentes des organisations des droits de l’homme et d’éthique ont largement diffusée.

Par exemple, le Professeur Alaa El-Ghoneimi (Hôpital universitaire mère-enfant Robert Debré, Paris – voir ci-dessus), a simplement rejeté le rapport 2013 du Rapporteur aux tortures le qualifiant « injuste ». (22)

Dans la même veine, le Professeur Pierre Mouriquand (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Lyon – voir ci-dessus- a rejeté à la fois le rapport du Rapporteur aux tortures de 2013 et Les Recommandations 2012 de la Commission nationale d’éthique dans le domaine de la médecine humaine, les qualifiant de « déclarations inappropriées et biaisées » et de « rapports biaisés et contreproductifs » tout en persistant dans sa volonté de continuer les opérations MGI. (23). ”

(22) http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2013/11/01/01003-20131101ARTFIG00204-l-allemagne-devient-le-premier-pays-europeen-a-reconnaitre-un-troisieme-sexe.php

(23) (23) P. Mouriquand, A. Caldamone, P. Malone, J.D. Frank, P. Hoebeke, “The ESPU/SPU standpoint on the surgical management of Disorders of Sex Development (DSD)”, Journal of Pediatric Urology vol. 10, no. 1 (2014), p. 8-10, http://www.jpurol.com/article/S1477-5131(13)00313-6/pdf

>>> C’est pourquoi le Comité contre la Torture va condamner la France pour les MGI
>>> « En France, aucune loi protège les enfants intersexes des mutilations quotidiennes »
>>> Communiqué de Presse de l’ONU aborde les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes en France
>>> Le Comité de l’ ONU contre la Torture questionne la France sur les MGI

   >>> Mutilations Génitales Intersexes: La France questionnée par UN-CRC
   >>> La Ministre Bloque et Detourne – Transcriptions des Questions et Réponses MGI
     >>> MGI = “Pratique Préjudiciable” + “Violence”: UN-CRC réprimande la France

Mutilations Intersexes: “Seule la peur du juge va bouger les choses” (2)

March 21, 2021May 11, 2016 by StopIGM.org

>>> 1ere partie >>> 3ieme partie >>> Article Tribune de Genève

Adapter le délai de prescription pour permettre aux survivants d’avoir recours à la justice et aux réparations, c’est un élément clé pour éliminer les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes !

Les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes (MGI) constituent un “traitement inhumain” explicitament interdit par la Convention contre la Torture (CAT).

Le rapport soumis par Vincent Guillot et l’ONG internationale intersex StopIGM.org explique pourqoi la 57ième session Comité contre la Torture va condamner la France pour faciliter et promouvoir ces graves violations des droits humains (p. 13):

“ A.5. Les obstacles à la réparation et à une compensation juste et appropriée

Le délai de prescription empêche les survivants qui ont subi des mutilations dans la petite enfance d’avoir recours à la justice parce que les personnes concernées n’accèdent à leur histoire médicale que bien plus tard dans leur vie, ce qui, combiné à de graves traumatismes provoqués par ces mutilations, conduit à des obstacles insurmontables. (30)

Même si le délai de prescription en France est n’a rien à envier aux pays voisins, dans les faits, il interdit toujours aux survivants de mutilations perpétrées dans la petite enfance d’avoir recours à la justice puisque les personnes concernées n’accèdent que tardivement dans leur vie à leur histoire médicale, et les graves traumatismes consécutifs aux mutilations génitales leur interdisent souvent de porter plainte dans les temps s’ils essaient. Jusqu’ici, aucun cas de plainte d’une victime des opérations de mutilations génitales n’a réussi eu de suite judiciaire. (voir cas n°2)

Le Gouvernement français refuse toujours de garantir que les interventions MGI non consenties et non nécessaires sur des mineurs soient reconnus comme des tortures ou des traitements inhumains (voir ci-dessus), ou comme des formes de mutilations génitales ou des pratiques préjudiciables,(31) ce qui donnerait des arguments pour empêcher les parents de donner leur consentement. En outre, l’État signataire refuse de procéder à des enquêtes impartiales, comme il s’oppose à la collecte de données, au contrôle et à la recherche désintéressée (voir ci-dessous p.46).

En plus, en dépit de la législation sur le droit du patient qui les oblige à le faire, les hôpitaux français sont souvent réticents à fournir un accès au dossier complet des patients. (voir cas n°1 et 2)

Cette situation n’est pas conforme avec les obligations de la France dans la Convention. ”

(30) Au niveau mondial, aucun survivant de chirurgies précoces n’a jamais réussi à faire valoir leur cas devant un tribunal. Tous les procès pertinents (3 en Allemagne, 1 aux Etats Unis) concernaient soit des chirurgies sur des adultes ou ils étaient initié par des parents adoptifs.

(31) CRC/C/FRA/CO/5, 4 février 2016, par. 47-48, /wp-content/uploads/France_Concl-Obs_CRC_C_FRA_CO_5_22995_E.doc

>>> C’est pourquoi le Comité contre la Torture va condamner la France pour les MGI
>>> « En France, aucune loi protège les enfants intersexes des mutilations quotidiennes »
>>> Communiqué de Presse de l’ONU aborde les Mutilations Génitales Intersexes en France
>>> Le Comité de l’ ONU contre la Torture questionne la France sur les MGI