CRC77 > Spain to be questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilations by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

UN-CRC 77th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 22.01.2018, 09:56h: Getting ready …

Geneva, 22 January: Spain is up for review at the 77th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Intersex organisations StopIGM.org and Brújula Intersexual and Spanish intersex advocates submitted compelling evidence of the ongoing practice in public Spanish children’s clinics to the Committee, and are now hoping for tough questions on intersex and Intersex Genital Mutilation.

In addition, our thematic Intersex NGO report has been endorsed by the Coordinadora de Profesionales por la Prevención de Abusos (CoPPA) – many thanks!  >>> English | Spanish

The review of Spain is to be transmitted live in English and Spanish on webtv.un.org:
• Session 1 with Committee questions: 10-13h CET
• Session 2 with Spain’s answers and follow-up questions: 15-18h CET

StopIGM.org was reporting LIVE from Palais Wilson:

Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

10:10h: The live transmission is on! Head of Spanish Delegation presenting introductory statement …

10:20h: First round of questions. CRC task force coordinator and CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova starts off with questions regarding school … discrimination … general priciples of the Convention … best interest of the child … right of children to be heard …

10:30h: CRC task force member Mr. Hatem Kotrane asks about implementation of the Convention …

10:37h: CRC task force member Mr. Gehad Madi continues with questions on children’s ombudsmen …

10:41h: CRC expert Mr. Luis Pedernera wants to know about the right of children born in surrogacy to know their biological parents …

10:49h: CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton asks about violence against children … corporal punishment …child abuse …

10:53h: 20 minutes intermission …

11:20h: Session resumed, Head of Delegation gives floor to regional representative from Galicia …

11:25h: Follow-up questions by Mr. Kotrane on budget …

11:28h:  Delegate for Social servives and equality answering on dissemination of Convention …

11:37h: Follow-up questions by Ms. Olga Khazova on general law obligations with regard to children …

11:41h: Delegation answers on schools …bullying … disabilities …

11:56h: Delegate of Ministry of Interior on implementation …

12:01h: Mr. Madi follows up on children and bull fighting …

12:04h: Ministry of Interior again …

12:13h: Follow-up by Ms. Khazova on eviction …

12:14h: Answers on surrogacy gestation … statutes of limitations regarding sex crimes …

12:21h: Answers on trafficking and sexual exploitation …

12:31h: Second round of questions, CRC task force coordinator and CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova asks about child removal … adoption … National Health Care and children … adolescent health care … Intersex children! Committee concerned about non-consensual genital mutilation and other detrimental treatment imposed on intersex children in various clinics in Spain which is often unnecessary and always very painful, with lifelong consequences. Question: do you plan to stop such surgeries until a child is able to make its own decision? Full transcription to follow! … mental health issues … poverty …

12:41h: CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton asks about children of incarcerated parents … leisure and right to play … juvenile justice …

12:47h: CRC task force member Mr. Gehad Madi asks about migrant children and refugees …exploitation … prostitution …

12:58h: Session adjourned until 3 pm …

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

15:02h: Session resumed, the live transmission is back on! Stay tuned for a Delegation answer on intersex genital mutilation (UPDATE: see below @ 15:40–15:44h), as there was a question by CRC vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova (Session 1 @12:31h). CRC task force member Mr. Hatem Kotranecontinues his 2nd round of questions about trafficking and extraterritorial prosecution …

15:07h: Ms. Khazova follows up on disability and ADD … followed by (more) Delegation answers on schools …

15:30h: Still more delegation answers … positive parenting … corporal punishment … paediatric care … mental health …

15:40h: Answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu (Chief Health Services for Mothers and Children): Children are dealt with in primary health services, which do a good job, although they are overburdened, and is supported by scientific community. Genital mutilation is a very complex issue, no specific figures  available here. Best thing is to wait. Children are also referred to specialised services. Full transcription to follow!

15:43h: Committee expert and CRC vice chairperson Mr. José Rodríguez follows up on intersex! Are there systems in place for statistical collection? Are there manuals for training of health care staff? Are there any legal provisions?
Full transcription to follow!

15:44h: Follow-up answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario Mateu: There is no national register, autonomous communities collect own data. Some have manuals and legislation, others not. National Health System is aware, children can also be sent to regional centers for treatment. Full transcription to follow!

15:50h: Answers on residential homes … social services … best interest of the child …

16:02h: Juvenile legal and criminal responsibility …

16:24h: 15 minutes break …

16:49h: Answers on child victim protection continued … on children up to 3 years with incarcerated mothers … children of gypsy mothers …

16:56h: Answers on unaccompanied minors …

17:16h: … on holding centers in Melilla … trafficking … gender based violence … homeless children in Ceuta and Melilla …

17:22h: Follow-up questions by Mr. Madi on absence of so-called reliable documents and medical tests to determine date of birth of minor refugees … followed by answers …

17:36h: Follow-up answers on Melilla … child poverty … protocol on child victims of trafficking … combating sex tourism … law on prohibiting armed groups from recruiting children …

17:47h: Resumé by CRC task force member Ms. Ann Skelton … thanks Delegation … Committee acknowledges progress, but has to focus on problems and vulnerable groups …

17:50h: Closing statement by Head of Delegation …

17:55h: Closing remarks CRC Chairperson Ms. Renate Winter … Session closed.

2017 CRC España ONG Intersex IGMIGM Practices in Spain: 2017 CRC NGO Report
Human Rights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex Anatomy
IGM in Spain  Complicity of the State  IGM is Harmful Practice
>>> English (PDF, 815 kb)  >>> Español (PDF, 335 kb)

>>> Endorsement of Intersex Report by CoPPA: Download English | Spanish
>>>
UN-CRC to investigate Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain
>>>
CRC77 > Intersex Genital Mutilation in Spain reported to UN

>>> Intersex human rights at the UN are under attack!!!

See also:
“Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condem IGM
28 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 is IGM?
>>> Download PDF (3.65 MB)     >>> Table of Contents

IGM as a Harmful Practice: 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
>>> Download PDF (831kb)