“Human Rights For Hermaphrodites
Too!”: 1st Intersex Protest at Zurich University Children's
Hospital, 06.07.2008

26 October is
Intersex Awareness Day.
This year we would like to recall the suffering of the victims of soon-to-be 60 years of systematic IGM practices, in the establishment and dissemination of which the Zurich University Children's Hospital (Kispi) played an important role globally (see CRC NGO Report, PDF p. 54–56).
And to protest once more against the appalling injustice, how to this day the dignity of IGM survivors and their right to truth, justice and reparation are disgracefully trampled on by those responsible.
Zurich University Children's Hospital: Destruction of medical records instead of reappraisal
An example of this is the shocking story of Erich Marti (see CRC NGO Report, PDF p. 54–56), who was subjected to unnecessary cosmetic genital surgery at Kispi Zurich in 1945 and 1946, whereupon his operated genital became extremely touch-sensitive, so that it always hurts strongly when aroused. Like most Intersex children, Erich Marti was lied to all his life – by his parents, by the Kispi doctors and by his family doctor. To this day he does not know what was done to him as a child and suffers from this uncertainty.
When in 2016 the Children's Hospital and the University of Zurich announced that, as part of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Project No. 169575, they would be “reviewing” the treatment of children with variations of sex development (DSD) at the Zurich University Children's Hospital and making the medical records available to those affected in the Zurich State Archives, Erich Marti regained hope – only to be shamefully deceived and bitterly disappointed again.
Despite protests from persons concerned, the Zurich Children's
Hospital and University had about 80% of all relevant medical records destroyed
beforehand – apparently also those of Erich Marti (see
2017 CAT NGO Report, PDF p. 9). For when he, with the support of the human
rights group Zwischengeschlecht.org, asked the State Archives for access,
his medical records were no longer there – the only thing left
was an entry in the register, which confirmed, however, that
Erich Marti had been operated twice in the pediatric surgery department
of the Kispi in 1945 and 1946!
Mon 29.10.2018: Non-partisan initiative in the Cantonal Council of Zurich
Next Monday, a non-partisan initiative
will be submitted to the Cantonal Council of Zurich –
more on this soon!
After an interpellation in the National Council and the motion in the Cantonal Council of Geneva, this is already the 3rd parliamentary initiative in Switzerland this year due to the work of StopIGM.org / Zwischengeschlecht.org.
We are also staying on the ball internationally: Due to a joint shadow report and testimonies of IGM survivors, Mexico was condemned for the first time this year by a UN treaty body – as were Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Spain and Argentina! There were further condemnations this year for Chile, Australia and New Zealand. And the Women's Rights Committee CEDAW questioned Nepal this week – hopefully followed by another reprimand for "harmful cultural practices" on Intersex children in November.
We wish everyone a fighting Intersex Awareness Day 2018!
On 26 October, Intersex
People, Survivors, Partners, Families, Friends and Allies around the globe
celebrate
Intersex Awareness Day, commemorating the very first
INTERSEX PROTEST in Boston in 1996 against the Annual Convention of
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and in support of over
20 Years of Organised Struggle to End
INTERSEX GENITAL MUTILATIONS.
See also:
- Celebrating Intersex Awareness
Day 2017
-
USA Recognise Intersex Awareness Day 2017 - Mutilations Continue ...
-
IAD 2016: Soon 20 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations!
-
Intersex Awareness Day 2015: Nonviolent Intersex Protest @ Zurich State
Parliament
-
'Boston '96 was a PROTEST!' Happy 10th Intersex Awareness Day 2013!
>>> Intersex: How to Distinguish Medical Crimes from Health Care
•
“Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem
IGM
•
36 UN Reprimands for Intersex Genital Mutilations – and counting
...
•
UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC): IGM = Harmful Practice
+ Violence
•
UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or
Torture
•
UN Women's Rights Committee (CEDAW): IGM = Harmful Practice
• UN Committee on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Violation of
Integrity
• UN Human Rights
Committee (HRCttee) to examine IGM Practices
•
CAT 2011: Germany must investigate IGM practices and compensate
survivors!
Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common
Forms
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex
Anatomy
IGM – Historical
Overview • What is
Intersex? • How Common are
IGMs?
>>>
Download PDF (3.65 MB)
>>> Table
of Contents
IGM as a Harmful Practice: 2015
UN-CRC Briefing
• IGM: A Survivor's Perspective • Intersex Movement History
• What are Variations of Sex Anatomy? • What are IGM Practices?
• IGM and Human Rights • Conclusion: IGM is a Harmful Practice
>>>
Download PDF (3.14 MB)
>>>
Table of Contents
Eliminating IGM practices by holding the perpetrators accountable via well-established applicable human rights frameworks, including Inhuman Treatment and Harmful Practices – Presentation @ UN expert meeting on Intersex Human Rights


Daniela Truffer (StopIGM.org) presented the Joint Intersex Statement on
behalf of the Nepali intersex community.



Photo:
Nonviolent Intersex Protest by StopIGM.org, Geneva 25 January 2009
#CEDAW43




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