Tell politicians to end circumcison!

... This site faciliates intactivist letter-writing campaigns and petitions, by making it easy to share links and write letters quickly and easily. / Click on the title of a posting to visit the contact page associated with the person or group mentioned. / If you have a link to share, click "submit link".

[intactiv-blog]

We would like to notify you of a recent petition on the White House website ‘We the People’ which calls for banning the practice of circumcising individuals under the age of 18. If this petition receives at least 25,000 signatures by December 14, 2012, then the Obama Administration is obligated to issue an official response. Please sign this petition and circulate it. Thank you.

[intactiv-blog]

Sabine Leutheusser (FDP) is a German politician, the federal minister of justice. This makes her a relevant politician to contact about any laws that the Bundestag (parliament) might enact. 

Alternate page with more contact info (her Bundestag profile): http://ow.ly/bWZBq

[intactiv-blog]

Encourage Denmark's Politicians to Support Proposed Ban!

Recently a majority of politicians have made calls for a ban on circumcision! Please give them your support and encouragement during this crucial time. Below are the political parties, and the number of seats they control in the parliament.

Social Democrat Party (44) and Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Liberal Party (47) and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, party leader and former Prime Minister.  

Danish People's Party (22)

Social Liberals Party (17)

Socialist People's Party (16)

Red + Green Alliance (12)

Liberal Alliance (9) and party leader Anders Samuelson

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Consider telling them:

"An age restriction on circumcision is crucial to protect human rights of children in Denmark, and also for boys in all other European countries who deserve similar protection. The world looks to Scandinavian countries as leaders in progressive politics and protecting human rights. Please do not legitimize the cruel assault of circumcision on boys. Your example can help Germany and other countries see that  the time has come to end ritual circumcision. It is simply not compatible with modern human rights laws.

Please view this letter addressed to German Chancellor Merkel, from concerned Canadians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy7YrBFjYsw "

[intactiv-blog]

Why is there not a petetion for the U.S.A to end circumcision?

It's a bit unrealistic right now. But if you are interested in american campaigns to end circ, check out mgmbill.org

I just added a link to the American Academy of Pediatrics. They will be coming up with a new circumcision policy statement in 30 days! Please email their board of directors and tell them to discourage circumcision.

[intactiv-blog]

Encourage Norwegian Politicians to support a ban!

A boy's death in May has spurred discussion of a ban in Norway. Some have suggested as many as 80% of the population supports a ban, but the minister of health has stated that they will not push for one. The Labour Party is in a ruling coalition with the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party. 

Minister of Health Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen said,

"We’d be the only country in the world to forbid ritual circumcision if we moved for this. I cannot, therefore, think that this will apply."

This despite ethicists speaking out against the practice. The Centre Party has asked for a ban. Party Spokeswoman Jenny Klinge said,

"In principle there is no difference in the circumcision of girls and boys.Circumcision is a violation regardless of gender. In both cases, the risk of complications, and some are damaged for life."

Chair of the Health and Care Committee Bent Høie's Email.

Health & Care Committee members list

Labour Party contact page

Centre Party Email. Spokeswoman Jenny Klinge's Email 

Socialist Left Party Parliamentary Email. Contact Page. Party office Email. Party Leader Line Gaare Paulsen's Email.

Progress Party parliamentary email & contact page 

Conservative Party parliamentary email & contact page

Christian Democratic Party party leader & contact page

[intactiv-blog]

(12/07/13) "Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman promised Germany's Jewish and Muslim communities on Friday they would be free to carry out circumcision on young boys despite a court ban."[1] 

Her email address 

Her official contact page (in German - use Google Chrome for easy browsing)

Her personal website's contact page

Merkel's political party is the Christian Democratic Union. E-mail the CDU.

[intactiv-blog]

Some of Germany's leaders have said that circumcision is a religious ritual that deserves protection. Tell them that religious rights end where a boy's penis begins!

The Jewish community has a petition encouraging Germany's parliament to override the existing court ban. Let's get our voice heard, too.

[intactiv-blog]

(Click on this posting's title to be taken to Guideo Westerwelle's profile page. Then click on the "Email to MP" link on the right.)

Guideo Westerwelle (FDP) is a German Politician, the foreign minister. He is in favor of circumcision for young boys. Press Quote:

"The ruling on circumcision has provoked annoyance internationally," Westerwelle wrote on his official Twitter account. "We have to be clear: religious traditions are protected in Germany," he added. Westerwelle was also quoted in the Bild's online edition on Thursday saying that Germany "is an open and tolerant country where religious freedom is well established and where religious traditions like circumcision as an expression of religious diversity are protected."  

Please send him a message that boys deserve full legal protection for their rights. This is stipulated in Article 2 of the German Basic Law, which says "Everyone has the right to life and physical integrity. Personal liberty is inviolable".

This politician is highly influential and in a top position in government and his statements are clearly pro-circumcision. 

Consider telling him that:

* Circumcision is not harmless

* Harming children cannot possibly be "religious expression" if we also prevent parents from denying children medical treatment, tatooing, and various cosmetic surgeries that interfere with the child. How can religion be an excuse for what is otherwise considered child abuse? 

* If females are entitled to COMPLETE protection of their genitals, including their foreskin (the homologous clitoral hood, or prepuce), how can this right be denied to boys? Boys and girls have equal human rights and equal protection under the law.

* For what it's worth, in Denmark, putting a child's entire head under water during baptism is prohibited. Avoiding harm to children must be the priority of the state, not protecting religious violence and risk-taking.

[intactiv-blog]

Katrin Altpeter (SPD) is a German politician, social minister in the state of Baden-Württemberg. She made some unsettling remarks after the Cologne ruling, that male circumcision was "in no way comparable" to FGC. Press Quote:

Women's rights groups and social policy makers also condemned the decision, but for the reason that it would have the effect of putting male and female circumcision on the same footing, when they were "in no way comparable", said Katrin Altpeter, social minister in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Female circumcision she said, was a far more drastic act.

Ironically, she is a children's rights advocate. 

I have emailed her asking her to clarify her position on the protection boys' genitals. I suggest asking her to publicly affirm:

- The Court in Cologne has ruled clearly that male circumcision is bodily harm. Both male circumcision and FGC do harm to children. Even if one is more severe it is wrong to say they are "totally incomarable".

- Both circumcision and FGC take away a person's right to say no to unnecesary and irreversible surgeries that they do not want.

- Boys and girls have equal rights, and their bodies deserve equal protection under the law.

[intactiv-blog]

User comment: Westerwelle, gay rights and intactivism

Guido Wetserwelle, Germany's foreign minister, is an openly gay man. We in the LGBT community know (or should know) all too well the damage that religion has done to the sexuality of so many of us. I encourage fellow LGBT intactivists to help Herr Westerwelle understand the connection between damaging religious beliefs and practices upon the sexuality of LGBTs and that of children. Cutting the genitals of a child is as much an anti-sexual act as is forcing a gay child into reparative therapy. Both are allegedly done by parents 'out of love,' but both disrespect and usurp the child's right to self-determination about his sexuality.

[intactiv-blog]

Change.org - Petition to End Unnecessary Male Circumcision in The UK 

[intactiv-blog]

[OLD -- Archived] E-mail the American Academy of Pediatrics and tell them to discourage circumcision, not endorse it!

[OlOut of Date: The American Academy of Pediatrics has not published its disappointing 2012 Position Statement on Circumcision. Writing to them now is not especially useful.]

The American Academy of Pediatrics is going to approve a new circumcision policy statement. We are concerned they will take a more pro-circumcision stance.

Here are the email addresses of their Board of Directors, which you can conveniently copy & paste into an email:

"Errol R. Alden" <[email protected]>, "Robert W. Block" <[email protected]>, "O. Marion Burton" <[email protected]>, "Thomas K. McInerny" <[email protected]>, "Carole E. Allen" <[email protected]>, "Danielle Laraque", <[email protected]>, "Sandra Gibson Hassink", <[email protected]>, "Francis E. Rushton, Jr" <[email protected]>, "Marilyn Bull" <[email protected]>, "Michael V. Severson" <[email protected]>, "Kenneth E. Matthews" <[email protected]>, "Kyle Yasuda" <[email protected]>, "Myles B. Abbott" <[email protected]>, "Sara H. Goza" <[email protected]>,

You can include this in your email, underneath your own words:

"Across many European nations, fierce debate goes on in houses of parliament over whether to ban circumcision. This year, German and Finnish district courts ruled that non-medically-indicated circumcision is illegal. Can the AAP really afford to ignore these new developments before publishing a new circumcision policy? The AAP should carefully re-evaluate the legal status of this cultural practice, especially now that so many European institutions have condemned it as a violation of human rights.

Many world medical organizations do not support medicalized circumcision anymore. In fact, the Royal Dutch Medical Society, the Swedish Academy of Pediatrics and the South African Medical Association have all called this procedure unethical, and a violation of a child’s human rights. It has become known that the natural prepuce has a function and is a valuable body part that should not be cut off without proper indication. It is no longer appropriate for the AAP to tolerate this unethical practice by its doctors. The AAP must now do what’s right and strongly discourage parents from doing this unnecessary and harmful surgery, which nas no real medical benefit. 

Circumcision violates the AAP's own policies on proxy consent for minors: http://www.cirp.org/library/ethics/AAP/ "