We’re admirers of the website Researching Reform, and Natasha Philips – the founder, and the legal expert for the site – has published an interesting piece on MGM. I’ve just submitted a comment (below) and I urge you to submit your own. Thank you.
Non-therapeutic circumcision of male minors (Male Genital Mutilation / MGM) is already illegal in the UK, albeit not specifically illegal (unlike FGM, which has been specifically illegal since 1985). MGM also breaches a number of UN and EU conventions. In common with paternity fraud, MGM is a crime which the criminal justice system does not prosecute people for – but SHOULD.
MGM is an abhorrent assault on the human rights of make babies, infants, and children, who by definition cannot give informed consent. I know of no medical benefits from the procedure which bear serious examination, and I strongly recommend a blog piece by William Collins on the matter – here.
MGM is, inter alia, a human rights issue. MGM is child abuse. Our political party is calling for it to be made specifically illegal, in line with FGM, at the earliest opportunity.
Mike Buchanan
JUSTICE FOR MEN & BOYS
(and the women who love them)
some useful (USA) statistic.. 1. About 117 boys die each year in the United States as a result of their circumcision, most from infections or blood loss (Bollinger, D. Lost Boys: An Estimate of U.S. Circumcision-Related Infant Deaths. Thymos: J Boyhood Studies, 2010;4(1), 78-90. ),
2.Contrary to frequent claims, infants do feel pain as intensely as adults, and very possibly even more,
3.Circumcision regularly removes a shocking 3/4 of the penis’ sensitivity through the removal of the ridged band, foreskin “lips,” and most often the entire frenulum,
4.As adults, men circumcised in infancy are almost 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED),
5. Circumcised men and boys are 60% more likely to suffer from alexithymia, a psychological trait disorder which causes difficulty in identifying and expressing one’s emotions, which can lead to difficulties in sustaining relationships,
6. 5.1% of boys will have significant complications,13 and the rate can be as high as 55% for all complications.14 Meatal stenosis (narrowing of the urinary opening) is found in 20% of circumcised boys. The average male will have more health problems from being circumcised than from being left alone,
7. Circumcision has never been proven to be effective in either reducing or treating cervical cancer, penile cancer, urinary tract infections, or sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS,
8. Not one medical association in America, or anywhere else in the world, recommends infant circumcision; some even recommend against it. At no time in its 75 years has the American Academy of Paediatrics ever recommended infant circumcision!
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