Resistance! Intactivism in Europe

RESISTANCEINTACTIVISM IN EUROPE

HELSINKI JANUARY 2014

David Smith

NORM-UK

FOUNDED 1995 REGISTERED UK CHARITY FOUNDED TO HELP MEN DAMAGED

PHYSICALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY THROUGH CIRCUMCISION

Genital Autonomy

GENITAL AUTONOMY

Founded in 2008Issues with promoting male circumcisionFGM and Intersex faced similar problems Uniting MGM, FGM and intersex made topic

more acceptable and easier for the public to understand

UNCROC provided human rights framework within which to operate.

Male circumcision like a three legged stool

MedicalSocialReligious

Three legs of circumcision stool

Religious leg

Decision made in 1995 that religious issue had to be tackled by the members of the religions.

Initial marketing mistakes.

Too much emphasis on foreskin restoration for victims

Not enough emphasis on prevention of unnecessary circumcision for the future.

Victor Schonfeld

It’s a Boy!

  THE Male Circumcision Film by Victor Schonfeld   ‘Programme of the Year’ - Independent on

Sunday Critically Acclaimed CHANNEL 4

Documentary

Reactions to the film.

Jewish organisations tried to stop it appearing This publicity meant more viewers. Viewers were shocked by the film. Contact details were given for NORM-UK at

the end of the film This meant more enquiries, more support,

more publicity for both the subject and NORM-UK

Best outcome from the film.

It started the debate in the UK

Activism in Europe

Cologne ruling started the debate in Europe

Reactions to ruling.

Religious objections Gave it more publicity Merkel panics Pushed through emergency to reverse the

ruling

Angered the public Start of the formation of activist groups in

Germany.

Victor Schonfeld reappears.

Re-released It’s a Boy Asked for donations to subtitle film into

German. Copy sent to every member of the Bundestag

Council of Europe

Marlene Rupprecht starts to gather information following Cologne

Invites Victor to Strasbourg Contacts Paul Mason Ex Tasmanian

Commissioner for Children CRIN (Children’s Rights Information Network)

start a submission to Strasbourg NORM-UK and Genital Autonomy involved

2013

Anne Lindboe speaks at Keele Conference Joint statement from Nordic Ombudsman Council of Europe conference Vote taken

NACS

Nordic Association for Clinical Sexology supports two recent resolutions on non-therapeutic circumcision of boys issued by the Nordic ombudsmen for children and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Increase of intactivism in Germany

Demonstrations New organisations

Ca m p a ig n truck o f the G io rda no Bruno Fo unda tio n,

s p re a d ing the m e s s a g e "My bo d y be lo ng s to m e " in Se p te m be r 2 0 1 2 (Pho to by Fra nk Nic o la i).

Bloodstained men

New organisations

Germany

MOGIS

MOGIS Press release

Child protection NGOs and pediatricians conclude: circumcision law has failed

Denmark

Denmark steps up activity

Lena Nyhus

Danish Society of Family Physicians

Statement issued Circumcision without medical indication is

mutilation

Morten Frisch Professor of Sexual Health becomes an active campaigner.

Council of Europe Next round

Invites Victor Schonfeld to Strasbourg for more discussions.

CRIN involved. Paul Mason involved. Ronald Goldman invited to Strasbourg from

the USA

Ronald Goldman.

Further comments

Opposition submitting a film Using USA studies of health benefits Using African HIV studies HOWEVER Non-therapeutic surgery should not be carried

out on minors is the criteria used by the C of E

Activism in the UK

Activism in the UK

Secular Medical Forum

Activism in the UK

Mens Network

Facebook page campaign. Online petition. Five Actions You Can Take To End

Male Circumcision

Men Do Complain

Bloodstained men

Genital Autonomy

GA

GA (International) based in the UK Registered as a charity in 2010

Taking steps to create interlinked partner organisations

The Australasian Institute for Genital Autonomy (AIGA) now active under the chairmanship of Paul Mason.

GA

The GA symbol

Idea emerged at a planning meeting following the Keele conference September 2013

GA Legal

Future events

Boulder symposium July Anniversary protest Cologne Possible conference in Copenhagen in

October