CCPR120 > TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO: Switzerland Questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilations by UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) – Gov Denies + Lies 4th Time – 4th UN Reprimand for Switzerland!

>>> CCPR120 > Testimony to Intersex Genital Mutilation in Switzerland
>>>
CCPR Timeline Switzerland 2017

UN-CCPR 120th Session @ Palais Wilson, Geneva 03.07.2017, 14:55h: Getting ready …
Left row, front: HRCttee expert Mr. Christof Heyns, who asked the first intersex question.
Right row, back (just below the podium): Mr. Yuval Shany who asked the follow-up question.

IGM = Torture, NOT 'Discrimination' or 'Gender Identity'

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During its 120th session, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) as the Treaty body monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) was investigating Intersex Genital Mutilations for the very first time!

StopIGM.org / Zwischengeschlecht.org, in collaboration with Swiss peer and parent’s self-help groups Intersex.ch and SI Global, have been denouncing IGM practices in Switzerland as a violation of CCPR since 2014, with the Committee thereafter asking the Swiss State party questions on intersex and IGM in its List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LoIPR) under para 22. In their (non-)reply, Switzerland brought up the usual denial + pinkwashing in the State report (para 188).

Now, during the State review in Geneva, the Swiss delegation was questioned by the HRCttee experts. StopIGM.org was reporting LIVE fom Palais Wilson, hoping for tough questions on Intersex and IGM, and a first reprimand for IGM practices by the HRCttee (CCPR/C/CHE/CO/4, paras 24-25) at the end of the 120th CCPR Session!

Session 1, Mon 03.07.2017, 15–18h CET

15:58h: (Video @ 00:57:03)YAY!! Committee expert and Country rapporteur Mr. Christof Heyns inquires about Switzerland’s position on IGM! Unofficial Transcript:

«And then I want to ask, what is your position on so called “corrective” genital surgeries on intersex children, is there an official position of the country on that issue?»

18:30h: (Video @ 02:29:25) (Non-)answer on intersex by Ms. Debora Gianinazzi (Civil Law and Law of Civil Procedure Unit, Federal Office of Justice FOJ), predictably changing the subject from IGM to “sex changes” and civil registration!
Unofficial Transcript
(based on the UN simultaneous translation from the original French):

«With regard of the government’s attitude regarding surgery involving intersex children. The Swiss government has publicly declared in a press communicate dated the 6 July 2016 that it believes that surgery must not take place unless for medical reasons it is absolutely necessary. By this we should understand that it is for the children themselves to determine, to take decisions regarding their sex. This is the attitude of the Swiss government, and resulting from that attitude, that approach, it is also provided for a facilitated process of sex changes and recording this in the Civil registry. In 2014 following recommendations based on human medicine the Civil registry adopted an official communication, sent out to all offices of Civil administration in Switzerland, calling that they adopt new practices in terms of of modifying registration, in particular allowing for, if there is a medical document stating that there was an erroneous registration at the time of birth. As I have said, these are official communiques and the Swiss government wants to go further. For this reason it is currently drawing up a draft bill codifying this simplified registration process for recording sex change in the Civil registry. Thank you.» 

Session 2, Tue 04.07.2017, 10–13h CET

10:55h: (Video @ 00:54:21) YAY!! Committee Rapporteur and Vice-chairperson Mr. Yuval Shany asks a follow-up question on intersex! Inquires about practical steps to raise awareness, prevent practice and guarantee rehabilitation for victims, as well as compensation Unofficial Transcript:

«Now issue no. 22 dealing with intersex related issues has been already largely covered by my colleague Mr Heyns, so I’m not going to go very extensively into this. I would just like to raise two points in that regard, one with regard to any practical information on any practical steps that the State party is taking in order to raise awareness among medical professionals and society at large with respect to this set of issues in order to prevent in the future unnecessary genital reassignment surgeries. We’ve been, it has been alleged to us that the State party does not provide adequate psychological support for intersex persons who have undergone involuntary genital surgical procedures in the past. Is this indeed the case? And more and finally what measures is the State party taking to provide access to intersex persons who have undergone such procedures to legal remedies and to ensure adequate compensation.»

12:41h: (Video @ 02:41:14) (Non-)answer to intersex follow-up question Mr. Guido Barsuglia (Head of Section, Federal Office of Public Health FOPH), resorting to the usual platitudes while conveniently skipping the question on psychological support and rehabilitation! Unofficial Transcript (based on the UN simultaneous translation from the original French):

«Thank you. I’ll answer two questions raised by Mr Shany on intersex children. To begin I’d like to say that Switzerland is aware of this issue. We’re concerned about it. Awareness raising among our citizens are of of the efforts taken in order to ensure that the right to self-determination is protected, as well as the right to mental and physical integrity of this group. We raise awareness through doctor’s associations, universities and patient’s associations. Mr Shany’s last question was on civilian actions seeking moral redress. As far as we know in Switzerland up to date there hasn’t been any civil case or class action case or payment in cash for moral reparations or redress in cases of sexual reassignment. Thank you.»

>>> CCPR120 > Testimony to Intersex Genital Mutilation in Switzerland
>>> Switzerland: Pinkwashing of Intersex Genital Mutilations at HRCttee
>>> UN Press release english | français
– both mention intersex
>>> Video Session 1
| Session 2 

NGO Report to the 4th Periodic Report of Switzerland on the  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR)

>>> Download as PDF (809 kb)

Compiled by:
StopIGM.org / Zwischengeschlecht.org
Intersex.ch
SI Selbsthilfe Intersexualität

>>> TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO: Switzerland Questioned by CRC
>>> TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO: Switzerland Questioned by CAT
>>> TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO: Switzerland Questioned by CEDAW

See also:
31 UN Reprimands for IGM – and counting …
“Harmful Medical Practice”: UN, COE, ACHPR, IACHR condemn IGM
UN Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC) 2015: IGM = Harmful Practice
UN Committee against Torture (CAT) 2015: IGM = Inhuman Treatment or Torture
UN Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) to examine IGM Practices
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) condemns IGM
56th Session of Committee against Torture reprimands 4 Governments for IGM
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

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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)

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