StopIGM.org | Page 8 | STOP Intersex Genital Mutilation in Children's Clinics!

‘Abusers of Intersex Kids’ Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne: Pinkwashing Intersex Genital Mutilation at Midsumma Pride

January 31, 2022February 22, 2018 by StopIGM.org

Screenshot: Article in “the stirrer” featuring IGM survivor and intersex advocate Tony Briffa

IGM = CRIME, Not 'Health Care' or 'Therapy'! The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (RCH) is aguably the biggest IGM perpetrator in Australia, regularly mutilating defenceless intersex children not only from Melbourne and Victoria, but also from Tasmania, Western Australia, New South Wales and even New Zealand, see >>> 2018 CRPD NGO Report (PDF, 188kb), p. 9.

Nonetheless, RCH was and is repeatedly allowed to march at the Melbourne Midsumma Pride, and thereby pinkwashing their ongoing crimes perpetrated on intersex children. However, this year IGM survivor and intersex advocate Tony Briffa took a stand, denouncing RCH’s serious human rights violations of intersex kids in ‘the stirrer’:

‘I did not march at Pride March this year – the first time in years.

When I was at Pride last year I was very stressed, anxious and disturbed that the Royal Children’s Hospital – the perpetrators of ongoing abuse of intersex infants and children, and who are yet to apologise for their abuse of the past – were marching.

It was very confronting and distressing. This hospital should not be applauded at a GLBTI event. Where is the consideration and respect for intersex people and what our mental health? How offensive that the RCH would be cheered on while they continue to cut up intersex children and refuse to admit and apologise for their wrongs?

I’m flabbergasted and horrified they are in this space. Yes I get that they do some good for trans kids, but their abuse of intersex kids should not be ignored.’

Not entirely surprising, RCH so far refused to comment on the issue – and unfortunately Midsumma Pride seems to make any tangible steps to address this intolerable situation dependent on a (still missing) response of RCH.

Kudos to Tony Briffa for highlighting Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne’s pinkwashing of their serious human rights violations – and SHAME on RCH for continuing to mutilate intersex kids! When will Midsumma Pride act?

>>> Full article on ‘the stirrer’

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

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)

CRC77 > Spain 10th European State Reprimanded for Intersex Genital Mutilation by UN

March 21, 2021February 18, 2018 by StopIGM.org

[ E S P A Ñ O L ]

Photo: Markus Bauer and Daniela Truffer (StopIGM.org) with the collaborative intersex NGO report on Spain
at the 77th CRC Session, Palais Wilson, Geneva 22.01.2018

Press Release by StopIGM.org, 19.02.2018:

During its 77th Session the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) examined Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM) in Spain. Intersex NGOs StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual, in collaboration with Spanish IGM survivors and parents, provided the Committee with compelling evidence of IGM being practiced allover Spain today, including in public university children’s hospitals in Madrid (despite a pro-forma law against it), Barcelona and Málaga.

The Committee has now sternly reprimanded Spain for IGM.

In its Concluding Observations, CRC not only condemned IGM in Spain as a “harmful practice” according to the Convention (CRC art. 24 (3) – like FGM), but further explicitly obliged Spain to “prohibit” the practice, and to “ensure that intersex children and their families receive adequate counselling and support”! (Full binding CRC recomemendation see below.)

StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual welcome this clear verdict, marking
• the 10th European state reprimanded for IGM by a UN Treaty body
• the 10th reprimand for IGM by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• the 20th reprimand to a European state for IGM by a UN Treaty body
• the 29th UN Treaty body reprimand for IGM so far, and
• now 18 states reprimanded in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Daniela Truffer, IGM survivor and founding member of StopIGM.org, said:

“These joyful and encouraging even numbers should not detract from the alarming fact that intersex human rights at the UN are currently in a state of crisis: Massive instrumentalising and misrepresentation of intersex and IGM by LGBT and transgender NGOs have so far nearly cut in half the number of new UN Concluding observations, namely from 13 recommendations in 2016 to a mere 7 in 2017, with some Committees effectively having stopped issuing further recommendations altogether.

Nonetheless, as these strong new recommendations by CRC demonstrate, if intersex people and organisations stand united, provide solid evidence, and clearly and strongly refuse instrumentalising and misrepresentation by 3rd party groups, UN Committees will still recognise intersex human rights, and continue to unmistakably condemn IGM practices as the serious human rights violation that they are.”

Please find below the binding CRC77 intersex recommendations in full + session video and transcripts + the NGO reports leading to CRC condemning IGM in Spain:

IGM Practices in Spain: 2017 CRC NGO Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM in Spain • Complicity of the State • IGM is Harmful Practice
>>> English (PDF, 815 kb) >>> Español (PDF, 335 kb)

>>> Endorsement of Intersex NGO Report by CoPPA: English | Español
>>> TRANSCRIPT+VIDEO: Spain questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilatons
>>> CRC77 > UN Press Release: “Genital Mutilation of Intersex Children in Spain”

CRC77: Binding Intersex Recommendations for Spain

>>> CRC/C/ESP/CO/5-6 (PDF) –> para 24

“E. Violence against children (arts. 19, 24 (3), 28 (2), 34, 37 (a) and 39)

Harmful practices [art. 24 (3)]

24. The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit unnecessary medical or surgical treatment from being performed on intersex children, when those procedures entail a risk of harm and can be safely deferred until the child can actively participate in decision-making. It also recommends that the State party ensure that intersex children and their families receive adequate counselling and support.”

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

>>>Download PDF (831kb)

Ukraine > Intersex and IGM Instrumentalised and Abused for LGBT and Gender Politics at the UN

March 21, 2021February 9, 2018 by StopIGM.org

The onslaught never stops (2): Virtually every time StopIGM.org takes part in an UN Treaty body session, we’re confronted with one or more trans or LGBT NGOs instrumentalising the pain and suffering of intersex children submitted to IGM as a means to their own ends, and – hand in glove with State p arties constantly pinkwashing IGM practices when questioned by UN Committees – seriously damaging intersex human rights at the UN in the process.

Typical examples of big-money agencies and NGOs exploiting IGM for LGBT politics include UNFE New York, Amnesty London, EU-FRA, and ILGA. “LGBT Denmark” is another typical example of a national LGBT organisation and ILGA member abusing intersex children as cannon fodder for LGBT politics at the UN.

“Insight” Ukraine: Stealing intersex people’s words to better abuse them

Today’s salient example is taken from the review of Ukraine at the 66th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

It concerns an NGO report “LBTI People in Ukraine” (relevant full quotes here) and a subsequent Committee briefing by the Ukranian LGBT NGO “Insight”, a self-styled “LGBTQI organisation” obviously without actual intersex representation or advocacy, and a member of ILGA Europe:

• First, in the report (p. 8) “Insight” shamelessly stole and plagiarised the words of Ukrainian intersex advocate Julia Pustovit – conveniently omitting the part where Pustovit explictly states, “I am against adding the ‘I’ to LGBT.” (full quote) – Check.

• In addition, the “Insight” report also “(trans-)sexualised” Pustovit’s one-paragraph statement on the current practice in the Ukraine by adding two phrases including the word “sex” not contained in the original statement, first claiming the surgeries would be offered “to make it easier to determine the sex”, and second narrowing Pustovit’s demand for intersex people to decide for themselves to the one aspect most relevant for LGBT and Trans persons, i.e. “decid[ing] what sex to be”. – Check.

• Then, in the subsequent NGO briefing to CEDAW, the “Insight” representative unsurprisingly omitted intersex and IGM altogether – only asking for recommendations on “LGBTI” instead – i.e. exactly, what Pustovit had warned of! – Check.

• Already the “Insight” report (p. 8) totally failed to adequately address IGM as a “harmful practice” (CEDAW art. 5 in conjunction with CEDAW-CRC General recommendation/comment No. 31/18 “on harmful practices”) – the crucial CEDAW human rights framework under which the Committe issued all previous recommendations condemning IGM as a serious violation – but rather focused on promoting frameworks more useful for LGBT and gender politics instead, namely “discrimination […], legal gender recognition and health issues”. – Check.

• As a consequence, there were no questions by the Committee on intersex and IGM to the Ukrainian Delegation during the session, and therefore also no recommendations in the Concluding observations. – Check.

• Even worse, such harmful misrepresentation and instrumentalising of intersex and IGM by national LGBT and Trans NGOs at the UN seems to be encouraged and supported by international big-money LGBT NGOs, for example ILGA: When we alerted a representative attending the session to the plagiarism in the “Insight” report, all we got was a shrug. – Check.

Conclusion: BINGO!!! Yet another LGBT NGO shamelessly abusing the pain and suffering of intersex children as a means to an end for LGBT politics and their own gain! – Shame on you!!!!!

How much longer?!!

Instrumentalising Intersex Is NOT A Victimless Crime!

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

• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting …

Intersex Genital Mutilation: Denmark stands in shame – UN acts

March 21, 2021February 8, 2018 by StopIGM.org

UPDATE! Now 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – Still Counting …

Photo: Rigshospitalet security attempts to shut down nonviolent intersex protest
on occasion of the ‘6th I-D$D Symposium’, Copenhagen 29.06.2017 – nice try … 😉

Press Release by StopIGM.org, 08.02.2018:

>>> Shocking new report to the UN Committee against Torture UNCAT (PDF 385kb) by international intersex NGO StopIGM.org and intersex advocate Ditte Dyreborg documents genital mutilation of intersex children persisting in Danish university clinics including the Rigshospitalet, and will likely give rise to a follow-up investigation by the Committee, kicking off at the upcoming 63rd UNCAT session in May.

UN: Genital Mutilation and Torture

After previous evidence and testimony by StopIGM.org and Ditte Dyreborg, UNCAT had already investigated Danish children’s clinics during the last review cycle, and consequently reprimanded Denmark for IGM in 2016, recognising IGM to constitute at least “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” falling under the prohibition of torture, and obliging Denmark to, inter alia,

“Take the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to guarantee the respect for the physical integrity and autonomy of intersex persons and ensure that no one is subjected during infancy or childhood to unnecessary medical or surgical procedures”
– CAT/C/DNK/CO/6-7, paras 42–43

Again as a result of evidence provided by StopIGM.org and Dyreborg, also the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child UNCRC reprimanded Denmark in 2017, recognising IGM as a “harmful cultural practice” just like FGM, and again obliging Denmark to, inter alia,

“undertake investigation of incidents of surgical and other medical treatment of intersex children without informed consent and adopt legal provisions in order to provide redress to the child victims of such treatment, including adequate compensation”
– CRC/C/DNK/CO/5, para 24

Currently, thanks to collaborative reports by StopIGM.org and fellow intersex NGOs and advocates, the total count stands at 28 UN Treaty body reprimands for IGM, with UNCRC expected to add yet another one later today in the afternoon!

UPDATE: YAY!! CRC/C/ESP/CO/5-6 –> p. 7, para 24 “Harmful Practices”

Ministry of Health: “Denmark plans to continue this practice”

As the >>> new UNCAT report substantiates, also in 2018 in Denmark unnecessary and harmful interventions on intersex babies continue, including partial clitoris amputation, forced sterilisation and “crippling” penis surgery known to cause severe, lifelong physical and psychological pain and suffering, for example at the Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital), the Aarhus University Hospital and the Odense University Hospital.

However, instead of finally acknowledging the serious human rights violations of IGM denounced by UNCAT and UNCRC and taking action towards human rights and justice, the Danish Ministry of Health defiantly vows to continue mutilating intersex toddlers just in spite:

«Denmark plans to continue this practice of helping intersex children through genital surgery to overcome functional and practical difficulties, but surgery will always be based on a medical indication, and parents are always involved in the decision regarding the operation.»
– Danish Ministry of Health, Geneva 15.09.2017

Government and Parliament: Acquiescence = Complicity

Denmark as a contracting State party to CRC, CAT, CCPR, CRPD and CEDAW is under binding and non-derogable obligation to prevent and prosecute genital mutilation and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment also on intersex children.

State officials, including members of parliament standing idly by while the state-sponsored daily mutilations continue, even after repeated reprimands by UN treaty bodies, make themselves just as guilty as those wielding the scalpels or coaxing overwhelmed parents into illegally “consenting” to IGM on their defenceless children.

Intersex children abused as cannon fodder for LGBT politics

Also Denmark has its share of national Trans and LGBT NGOs instrumentalising the pain and suffering of intersex children submitted to IGM as a means to an end for LGBT politics and their own gain, instead of demanding effective remedies to end IGM.

An interrelated harmful misconception is misrepresenting IGM as “health-care issue” and the promotion of “self-regulation” by the current perpetrators, again instead of demanding effective legal remedies to end IGM practices.

Currently, such abuse and harmful misrepresentations of intersex dominate the political discourse.

Repentant surgeon: “Only the fear of the judge will make things change”

On the other hand, so far there are hardly political actors consistently proposing effective measures to end IGM (as stipulated by international right), including legislation explicitly criminalising or adequately sanctioning all forms of IGM, and including addressing typical obstacles to access to redress and justice for IGM survivors, particularly the statutes of limitations (again as stipulated by CRC, CAT, CCPR, CRPD, CEDAW, etc.).

“Things hardly evolve in the medical world.”
“In my opinion, only the fear of the judge will make things change. We need statutes of limitation long enough so that victims may sue as adults.”
– Dr Blaise Meyrat

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.

• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting …

IGM in Denmark: 2018 CAT LoIPR NGO Report
Human Rights Violations Of Persons With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM in Denmark • Complicity of the State • IGM = Inhuman Treatment
>>> Download PDF (385 kb)

>>>Download PDF (831kb)

CRC77 > VIDEO + TRANSCRIPT: Spain questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilation by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child – Gov: No Data, No Protection

December 3, 2023February 5, 2018 by StopIGM.org

[ E s p a ñ o l ]

UN-CRC 77th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 22.01.2018, 09:56h: Getting ready …

Geneva, 22 January: Spain is up for review at the 77th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Intersex organisations StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual and Spanish intersex advocates submitted compelling evidence of the ongoing practice in public Spanish children’s clinics to the Committee, and are now hoping for tough questions on intersex and Intersex Genital Mutilation.

In addition, our thematic Intersex NGO report has been endorsed by the Coordinadora de Profesionales por la Prevención de Abusos (CoPPA) – many thanks! >>> English | Español

The review of Spain was transmitted live in English and Spanish on webtv.un.org:
• VIDEO Session 1 (English + Español) with Committee questions: 10-13h CET
• VIDEO Session 2 (EN + ES) with Spain’s answers and follow-up question: 15-18h CET

StopIGM.org was reporting LIVE from Palais Wilson [original report]:

Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

10:10h: The live transmission is on! Head of Spanish Delegation presenting introductory statement …

12:31h: (Video @ 2:33:35)YAY!! Second round of questions, CRC task force coordinator and vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova […] raises intersex children! Says the Committee is concerned about non-consensual genital mutilation and other detrimental treatment imposed on intersex children in various clinics in Spain, which is often unnecessary and always very painful, with lifelong consequences. Question: Do you plan to stop such surgeries until a child is able to make its own decision? 🙂 Unofficial Trancript:

«Another question on intersex children. The Committee is concerned about the still existing practice of non-consensual genital mutilation as well as other detrimental procedures that are imposed on intersex children in various clinics in Spain.

Such surgeries and procedures, which are often unnecessary and are always very painful produce life-long negative consequences and I don’t have time to develop this issue, I believe you are familiar with all the problems that are accompanying.

So my question is: do you plan to stop such surgeries or procedures and postpone them until later time when a child is able to make his or her own decision or at least participate in decision making, and perhaps when it turned out that such a surgery is not necessary at all.»

12:58h: Session adjourned until 3 pm …

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

15:02h: Session resumed, the live transmission is back on!

15:40h: (Video @ 39:16) Answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu (Chief Health Services for Mothers and Children)!Says children are dealt with in primary health services, which do a good job, although they are overburdened, and is supported by scientific community. Genital mutilation is a very complex issue, no specific figures available here. Best thing is to wait. Children are also referred to specialised services. :-/ Unofficial transcript (of UN simultaneous translation from original Spanish):

«You also asked about intersex children, and in answer to this I can say that intersex children are dealt with within the primary health care services. They are overburdened but work very well and do have common protocols. They are heavily supported by the scientific communities and work well.

So intersex children are seen just like any other child in mainstream primary health care services, and the question of mutilations or surgical operations, I think these are very complex issues, I really don’t have specific figures for you here, but I know that it’s something that child health care professionals do deal with. We have to look at the hormonal development of these children when it’s not very clear how the development will take place.

There are once again in this area some communities that work better than others, but it’s I think obviously the best thing to do is to wait in the case of intersex children, and primary health care service refer cases to specialised health care services if appropriate.»

15:43h: (Video @ 43:19) YAY!! Committee expert and CRC vice chairperson Mr. José Rodríguez follows up on intersex! Asks if there are systems in place for statistical collection? Are there manuals for training of health care staff? Are there any legal provisions? 🙂 Unofficial transcript (of UN simultaneous translation from original Spanish):

«Thank you, good afternoon, and my greetings to the distinguished delegation that is here with us this afternoon.

You have been telling us that you have very few cases of intersex children. I wonder whether you have any statistical collection system to know exactly how many intersex children there are in Spain, and whether you have any practical manuals or training which is provided to health care staff precisely so they can become more familiar with this issue.

And finally whether you have any legal provisions that relate to intersex children.»

15:44h: (Video @ 44:12) Follow-up answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu (Chief Health Services for Mothers and Children):There is no national register, autonomous communities collect own data. Some have manuals and legislation, others not. National Health System is aware, children can also be sent to regional centers for treatment. Plus she simply ignored the question about legal privisions! 🙁 Unofficial transcription (of UN simultaneous translation from original Spanish):

«Thank you, Sir, for that question. We don’t have a national register because we don’t have a national assistance register in Spain. All of the autonomous Communities collect their own data, and obviously, if we want to re-evaluate policy at the central level then we have to ask the Communities for their figures.

And guides on intersex children, well, there are such guides, there are autonomous Communities that have such good guides in place. The scientific community is also involved here and it works very well in this area, as well as training is concerned, while at the national level I believe that this is training which is being attempted at the autonomous Community level, because the intersex child must be seen by someone who has been trained whether they are operated on or not.

There is no national register, I would repeat, but the health care system is aware of these children. So it is a question of how the system is coordinated.»

17:55h: Closing remarks by CRC chairperson Ms. Renate Winter … Session closed.

UPDATE! Now 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – And Counting …

>>> Endorsement of Intersex NGO Report by CoPPA: English | Español
>>> UN-CRC to investigate Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain
>>> CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

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

>>>Download PDF (831kb)

CRC77 > UN Press Release: “Genital Mutilation of Intersex Children in Spain” – But French Version Still Misrepresents IGM as “FGM” and “Surgery on Transgender Children” – OUCH!!!!

March 21, 2021January 26, 2018 by StopIGM.org

>>> The English UN press release on the review of Spain by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adequately summarises the questions on Intersex Genital Mutilation by CRC experts Olga Khazova (and José Rodríguez) as well as the revealing (non-)replies by Spanish delegate Dña. Sagrario Mateu (Chief of Health Services for Mothers and Children). Thank you!
Whereas, unfortunately, the French version (see below) only gets the (non)-answers right – please do always use the correct terms!

These are the relevant excerpts on IGM in Spain in the >>> English UN press release:

«Second Round of Questions by the Committee Experts

OLGA KHAZOVA, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Spain […] As for intersex children, Ms. Khazova expressed concern about the still existing practice of non-consensual genital mutilation. Was there a plan to stop such surgeries during infancy and postpone them until a later time when adolescents could make their own decisions?»

«Replies by the Delegation

[…] Intersex children were cared for by the mainstream healthcare services and they were treated as all other children. There was no national registry of intersex children because autonomous communities collected their own data. Autonomous communities had their legal guidelines vis-à-vis intersex children, which were developed in consultation with specialists in the field.»

Unfortunately, the >>> French UN press release mentions no questions on intersex, but rather on “female genital mutilation” instead of IGM, and even worse, in the next sentence claims the issue would be to “stop surgical operations performed on transgender children” – despite the fact that CRC rapporteur Olga Khazova and CRC expert José Rodríguez both clearly spoke of “intersex children”, and NOT transgender children! OUCH!!!!! (As we didn’t listen in to the French simultaneous translation, we don’t know what terms were used there.)

«Questions et observations des membres du Comité
MME OLGA KHAZOVA, présidente du groupe de travail du Comité chargé de l’examen du rapport de l’Espagne […] Mme Khazova a ensuite fait état de la persistance de la pratique des mutilations génitales féminines en Espagne. Elle a en outre recommandé de mettre un terme aux opérations chirurgicales pratiquées sur des transgenres mineurs et de reporter ces procédures à un âge où leurs bénéficiaires peuvent valablement juger de leur pertinence.»

On the positive side, the French press release at least correctly summarised the answers on “intersex children”:

«Réponses de la délégation […]
Les autorités sanitaires s’efforcent autant que possible d’éviter les interventions chirurgicales sur les enfants intersexués, dont le nombre est au demeurant très limité, a ensuite indiqué la délégation. Les personnels soignants sont formés à la manière d’orienter ces enfants vers les services compétents.»

Please do always use the correct terms in the future, thank you!

>>> Endorsement of Intersex NGO Report by CoPPA: English | Español
>>> CRC77 > LIVE: Spain questioned over IGM – Gov: No Data, No Protection
>>> CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

>>> CRC76 > UN Press Release calls IGM survivors “transsexual children”
>>> CAT60 > UN Press Release calls IGM “sex alignment”, survivors “transsexuals”!

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

CRC77 > Spain to be questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilations by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

December 3, 2023January 23, 2018 by StopIGM.org

UN-CRC 77th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 22.01.2018, 09:56h: Getting ready …

Geneva, 22 January: Spain is up for review at the 77th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

In addition, our thematic Intersex NGO report has been endorsed by the Coordinadora de Profesionales por la Prevención de Abusos (CoPPA) – many thanks! >>> English | Spanish

The review of Spain is to be transmitted live in English and Spanish on webtv.un.org:
• Session 1 with Committee questions: 10-13h CET
• Session 2 with Spain’s answers and follow-up questions: 15-18h CET

StopIGM.org was reporting LIVE from Palais Wilson:

Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

10:10h: The live transmission is on! Head of Spanish Delegation presenting introductory statement …

10:20h: First round of questions. CRC task force coordinator and CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova starts off with questions regarding school … discrimination … general priciples of the Convention … best interest of the child … right of children to be heard …

10:30h: CRC task force member Mr. Hatem Kotrane asks about implementation of the Convention …

10:37h: CRC task force member Mr. Gehad Madi continues with questions on children’s ombudsmen …

10:41h: CRC expert Mr. Luis Pedernera wants to know about the right of children born in surrogacy to know their biological parents …

10:49h: CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton asks about violence against children … corporal punishment …child abuse …

10:53h: 20 minutes intermission …

11:20h: Session resumed, Head of Delegation gives floor to regional representative from Galicia …

11:25h: Follow-up questions by Mr. Kotrane on budget …

11:28h: Delegate for Social servives and equality answering on dissemination of Convention …

11:37h: Follow-up questions by Ms. Olga Khazova on general law obligations with regard to children …

11:41h: Delegation answers on schools …bullying … disabilities …

11:56h: Delegate of Ministry of Interior on implementation …

12:01h: Mr. Madi follows up on children and bull fighting …

12:04h: Ministry of Interior again …

12:13h: Follow-up by Ms. Khazova on eviction …

12:14h: Answers on surrogacy gestation … statutes of limitations regarding sex crimes …

12:21h: Answers on trafficking and sexual exploitation …

12:31h: Second round of questions, CRC task force coordinator and CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova asks about child removal … adoption … National Health Care and children … adolescent health care … Intersex children! Committee concerned about non-consensual genital mutilation and other detrimental treatment imposed on intersex children in various clinics in Spain which is often unnecessary and always very painful, with lifelong consequences. Question: do you plan to stop such surgeries until a child is able to make its own decision? Full transcription to follow! … mental health issues … poverty …

12:41h: CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton asks about children of incarcerated parents … leisure and right to play … juvenile justice …

12:47h: CRC task force member Mr. Gehad Madi asks about migrant children and refugees …exploitation … prostitution …

12:58h: Session adjourned until 3 pm …

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

15:02h: Session resumed, the live transmission is back on! Stay tuned for a Delegation answer on intersex genital mutilation (UPDATE: see below @ 15:40–15:44h), as there was a question by CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova (Session 1 @12:31h). CRC task force member Mr. Hatem Kotranecontinues his 2nd round of questions about trafficking and extraterritorial prosecution …

15:07h: Ms. Khazova follows up on disability and ADD … followed by (more) Delegation answers on schools …

15:30h: Still more delegation answers … positive parenting … corporal punishment … paediatric care … mental health …

15:40h: Answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu (Chief Health Services for Mothers and Children): Children are dealt with in primary health services, which do a good job, although they are overburdened, and is supported by scientific community. Genital mutilation is a very complex issue, no specific figures available here. Best thing is to wait. Children are also referred to specialised services. Full transcription to follow!

15:43h: Committee expert and CRC vice chairperson Mr. José Rodríguez follows up on intersex! Are there systems in place for statistical collection? Are there manuals for training of health care staff? Are there any legal provisions?
Full transcription to follow!

15:44h: Follow-up answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu: There is no national register, autonomous communities collect own data. Some have manuals and legislation, others not. National Health System is aware, children can also be sent to regional centers for treatment. Full transcription to follow!

15:50h: Answers on residential homes … social services … best interest of the child …

16:02h: Juvenile legal and criminal responsibility …

16:24h: 15 minutes break …

16:49h: Answers on child victim protection continued … on children up to 3 years with incarcerated mothers … children of gypsy mothers …

16:56h: Answers on unaccompanied minors …

17:16h: … on holding centers in Melilla … trafficking … gender based violence … homeless children in Ceuta and Melilla …

17:22h: Follow-up questions by Mr. Madi on absence of so-called reliable documents and medical tests to determine date of birth of minor refugees … followed by answers …

17:36h: Follow-up answers on Melilla … child poverty … protocol on child victims of trafficking … combating sex tourism … law on prohibiting armed groups from recruiting children …

17:47h: Resumé by CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton … thanks Delegation … Committee acknowledges progress, but has to focus on problems and vulnerable groups …

17:50h: Closing statement by Head of Delegation …

17:55h: Closing remarks CRC Chairperson Ms. Renate Winter … Session closed.

>>> Endorsement of Intersex Report by CoPPA: Download English | Spanish
>>> UN-CRC to investigate Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain
>>> CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

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

>>>Download PDF (831kb)

22.01.18 > UN-CRC to investigate Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain

December 3, 2023January 21, 2018 by StopIGM.org

[ E s p a ñ o l ]

UPDATE! Our thematic Intersex NGO report has been endorsed by the Coordinadora de Profesionales por la Prevención de Abusos (CoPPA) – many thanks! >>> English | Español

IGM = CRIME, Not 'Health Care' or 'Therapy'! Tomorrow Monday 22 January 2018, in Geneva the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will examine the human rights record of Spain as a contracting State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This public examination will also be transmitted live in English and Spanish on webtv.un.org (Session 1 with Committee questions: 10-13h CET + Session 2 with Spain’s answers and follow-up questions: 15-18h CET).
>>> CRC Timeline Spain 2017-18

Intersex organisations StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual are expecting tough questions on Intersex Genital Mutilation in public Spanish children’s clinics, as CRC regularly condemns IGM as a “harmful cultural practice” (just like FGM) and as “violence against children“.

Since 2015, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has so far reprimanded 9 states for failing to protect intersex children from IGM as stipulated by the Convention. Other UN Committees condemning IGM as a serious breach of international law include the Committee against Torture (CAT) and the Human Rights Committee (CCPR).

CRC’s verdict on Spain will be published in February shortly after the end of the 77^th CRC session hopefully marking already the 10^th reprimand for IGM by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (and just in time for the “VII International Course of Urethral Reconstructive Surgery” shamelessly promoting IGM in Madrid on February 5-6, including multiple “Video sessions” of “Live Surgery”).

>>> CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

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

>>>Download PDF (831kb)

CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

March 21, 2021January 17, 2018 by StopIGM.org

[ E s p a ñ o l ]

UPDATE! Our thematic Intersex NGO report has been endorsed by the Coordinadora de Profesionales por la Prevención de Abusos (CoPPA) – many thanks! >>> English | Español

NGO Report to the 5th and 6th Periodic Report of Spain on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

>>> v1.1 Español (PDF 335 kb)
>>> v1.0 English (PDF 815 kb)

Compiled by:
Brújula Intersexual
StopIGM.org / Zwischengeschlecht.org

During its 77th session in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will examine the human rights record of Spain as a contracting State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to be transmitted live in English and Spanish on webtv.un.org next Monday 22.01.2018. >>> CRC Timeline Spain 2017-18

The international intersex human rights NGOs StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual submitted an extensive thematic intersex report to the Committee, providing solid evidence of how today in Spain healthy intersex children are still submitted to non-consensual, unnecessary genital surgeries, sterilising procedures and other harmful treatments that continue to be advocated, prescribed and perpetrated by state funded public University and Children¹s Clinics, promoted by Spanish medical associations and paid for by the National Health System (SNS), causing lifelong severe pain and suffering.

As the report further demonstrates, multiple University clinics are regularly hosting publicly advertised events practicing what they call “Live surgery” including partial clitoris amputation (e.g. in Barcelona) and penile cutting (e.g. in Malaga).

So far, in Spain only the Community of Madrid has enacted legislation aimed at preventing IGM. Law 2/2016 of the Community of Madrid states in art. 4 (3), “[…] genital surgeries of intersex persons without the informed consent of the person concerned or the need to ensure biological functionality for health reasons, are prohibited in the health services of the Community of Madrid.“ As the report shows, nonetheless Madrid’s public children’s hospitals continue to publicly advertise, perform and promote all forms of IGM practices – just the same as in the other autonomous Communities …

The intersex NGO report, the first of its kind for Spain, also includes 4 personal testimonies of Spanish survivors of IGM practices, and is available for download both in English and Spanish language editions:
>>> http://intersex.shadowreport.org

>>> Download PDF (831kb)

Americas > “IACHR Urges States to End Violence and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons”

March 21, 2021November 27, 2017 by StopIGM.org

IGM = CRIME, Not 'Health Care' or 'Therapy'! The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a >>> press release | castellano condemning Intersex Genital Mutilations as a serious human rights violation, recognising “the negative complications of these procedures, including chronic pain, permanent trauma, genital sensitivity, and sterilization”, and explicitly calling to “prohibit” IGM:

“Based on these considerations, the IACHR urges the States to urgently prohibit surgeries and medically unnecessary procedures on intersex children. The Commission further reiterates that States should respect the autonomy of all intersex persons and all dimensions of their right to health, their right to physical and psychological integrity, and their right to live free from all forms of violence and discrimination, and should prevent all inhuman and degrading treatment.”

CRC77: Binding Intersex Recommendations for Spain

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

“Insight” Ukraine: Stealing intersex people’s words to better abuse them

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

UN: Genital Mutilation and Torture

Ministry of Health: “Denmark plans to continue this practice”

Government and Parliament: Acquiescence = Complicity

Intersex children abused as cannon fodder for LGBT politics

Repentant surgeon: “Only the fear of the judge will make things change”

• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM• 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting …

Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

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

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

Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

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

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

NGO Report to the 5th and 6th Periodic Report of Spain on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

>>> v1.1 Español (PDF 335 kb)>>> v1.0 English (PDF 815 kb)

>>> Intersex human rights are under attack!!!

• “Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
• 29 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting …

>>> v1.1 Español (PDF 335 kb)
>>> v1.0 English (PDF 815 kb)