Skip to content or view screen version

Glasgow: Info + Protests against Intersex Genital Mutilators

STOP Intersex Genital Mutilations! | 05.06.2013 02:47

Perpetrators of cosmetic genital surgeries and other non-consensual treatments on children with 'atypical' sex anatomy from all over the world are gathering in Scotland for the '4th I-DSD Symposium'. Survivors an allies will hold an info night today and 7 peaceful vigils from Saturday to Sunday to remind them that it is NOT OK to mutilate defenceless children.

Peaceful protest outside the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2011
Peaceful protest outside the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2011


For 60 years now, the practice of systematic cosmetic genital surgeries on children with 'atypical genitals' persists. In all these years and decades, the clinicians responsible were not able to produce any evidence for the alleged benefits for the children concerned, but instead insist on continuing to operate on the basis of mere anecdotal evidence.

For 20 years now, survivors of these surgeries have protested them publicly, describing them consistently as 'very harmful', 'traumatizing', 'immensely destructive of sexual sensation and of the sense of bodily integrity', and have compared the surgeries and their effects to female genital mutilation, which has been corroborated by international experts, and to child sexual abuse, which also has been corroborated by studies. For 20 years now, the clinicians concerned have mainly refused to heed, let alone acknowledge these serious concerns, but instead keep on repeating the same old excuses.

• Earlier article with references: 'Genital Mutilators Converging in London, Sparking Protests':  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/09/484286.html

• Documentation 'Intersex Genital Mutilations: History & Current Practice' [ TRIGGER WARNING !!! ]  http://stop.genitalmutilation.org/public/Zwischengeschlecht_UNHRC_Docu_2013_web.pdf

Last year, the international network of perpertrators 'EuroDSD' got re-branded 'I-DSD' and moved its HQ to Scotland, where it will host the '4th International DSD Symposium' at the University of Glasgow. Ethical und human rights concerns re: Intersex Genital Mutilations are not part of the programme, again. Doctors and institutions involves continue to advocate and perpetrate medically not necessary, irreversible, cosmetic surgeries on children concerned for 'psychosocial reasons'.

Info Night on Wed 5th, 7pm and 7 Peaceful Protests lead by survivors a.o. in front of the Symposium from Fri 7th – Sun 9th of June:

INFO NIGHT, Wednesday 5th June 19:00
"Intersex Genital Mutilations – Past and Present"
Dewar Room @ The Albany
44 Ashley Street, Glasgow, G3 6DS

7 PEACEFUL VIGILS + OPEN LETTERS, Fri 7th - Sun 9th
"STOP Inters*x Genital Mutilations!"

Friday 7th June 2013
#1 08:30-12:45 Wolfson Medical School
#2 13:00-15:45 Sir Charles Wilson Building
#3 16:00-18:45 University of Glasgow, Main Gate

Saturday 8th June 2013
#4 08:30-10:00 Sir Charles Wilson Building
#5 11:00-14:30 Royal Hospital for Sick Children - Yorkhill
#6 15:30-17:45 Sir Charles Wilson Building

Sunday 9th June 2013
#7 08:30-14:00 Sir Charles Wilson Building

Locations:

Wolfson Medical School Building (Fri 08:30-12:45)
University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
("DSD Training Workshop for Young Investigators")

Sir Charles Wilson Building (Fri 13:00-15:45, Sat 08:30-10:00 + 15:30-17:45, Sun 08:30-14:00)
Kelvin Way, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
("4th I-DSD Symposium")

University of Glasgow, Main Gate (Fri 16:00-08:45)
University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
("Guest Lecture" / "I-DSD Steering Committee Meeting")

Royal Hospital for Sick Children - Yorkhill (Sat 11:00-14:30)
Dalnair Street, Yorkhill, Glasgow, G3 8SJ
("I-DSD Homebase")

Survivors and allies demand the prohibition of forced genital surgeries on children and adolescents with 'atypical' sex anatomy and "Human Rights for Hermaphrodites too!"

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

 http://stop.genitalmutilation.org

STOP Intersex Genital Mutilations!
- Homepage: http://stop.genitalmutilation.org