Many men and boys are circumcised in the UK every day – around 90 per cent of these operations are thought to be medically unnecessary. The charity Genital Autonomy is hosting a unique one-day workshop and mini-conference to explore what campaigners, researchers, the media, charity workers, public sector staff, health professionals and religious communities can do to start reducing the number of men and boys who are subjected to unnecessary circumcision every day in the UK.
What do we mean by ‘unnecessary’ male circumcision?
Ending Unnecessary Male Circumcision means different things to different people.
- For some it’s reducing therapeutic circumcisions which are medically unnecessary as there are less invasive treatments now available
- For some it is about stopping non-medical personnel from carrying out genital surgery without an anaesthetic for religious reasons
- For some it is about preventing any genital surgery on children for non-medical reasons – and allowing boys to choose for themselves whether or not they want to be circumcised when they reach the age of consent
- For some it is about addressing the issue globally and taking action to end medically unnecessary male circumcision around the world.
This event will be of interest to anyone who wants to:
- Find out more about the pros and cons of therapeutic circumcisionLearn about the non-surgical alternatives to circumcision
- Help reduce the number of unnecessary circumcisions performed by the NHS
- Explore whether it is feasible or desirable to regulate religious circumcisions
- Consider the medical ethics of performing unnecessary circumcisions
- Debate whether boys should have the same legal protection against unnecessary genital surgery as girls
- Discuss what role we can play in reducing unnecessary male circumcision in other countries.
What will you get out of the day?
As a delegate you will enjoy a dynamic mix of presentations, question and answer sessions, discussions and facilitated problem-solving to help us create new approaches to tackling unnecessary male circumcision in the UK and abroad. This day will particular useful to you if you want to:
- Help more parents make informed choices and avoid unnecessary circumcision by improving awareness of alternative treatments?
- Ensure that health professionals are better equipped to reduce unnecessary circumcisions in the NHS and other medical settings?
- Support families and individuals within faith communities who want to challenge the custom of performing medically unnecessary circumcisions on babies and young boys?
- Protect a child’s right to choose as an adult whether or not he wants to be circumcised?
- Understand the gender issues surrounding circumcision such as the genital autonomy of girls and boys and the different rights of mothers and fathers to choose or reject circumcision both legally and in practice?
- Find out more about the positive and negative impacts of circumcision physically, mentally and sexually?
- Examine the issues relating to religious, ritualistic and medically unnecessary circumcision in other countries.
To book your place at the event, or for more details on the event, click here.
