Ending forced genital cutting of children and violation of their human rights: ethical, psychological and legal considerations

Gregory J. Boyle, Bond University

Abstract

Neonatal male circumcision has no medical indication, is non-therapeutic, and violates the child's right to bodily integrity. No national or international medical association anywhere in the world recommends routine neonatal male circumcision. Female circumcision has been outlawed in a several Australian jurisdictions. Failure to provide equal protection under the law for male minors is discriminatory. Parents cannot give legal consent for a non-therapeutic surgical intervention performed on an unconsenting minor. All forms of genital cutting imposed on children (including unnecessary sex-reduction circumcision surgery, as well as sex-assignment/reassignment surgery) may have serious life-long adverse physical, sexual and psychological consequences. Genital cutting imposed on normal, healthy children causes grievous bodily harm (genital mutilation), and in the absence of medical necessity, amounts to criminal sexual assault