UN Reprimands UK and Nepal for Genital Mutilation on Intersex Children

The UN has stepped in to reprimand the UK and Nepal for their genital surgery practices on intersex children.

When intersex genital mutilation (IGM) takes place, doctors often decide if their patient is "more male" or "more female," and then conduct a surgery to enhance those characteristics.

In the UK and Nepal, these surgeries are done without the child's consent.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reports on the UK and Nepal have issued concern over "cases of medically unnecessary surgeries" and "other procedures on intersex children before they are able to provide their informed consent."

These surgeries entail irreversible consequences and can cause severe physical and psychological suffering. The UN Committee also addressed the lack of redress and compensation in such cases.

According to StopIGM.org, the Committee obliges that intersex children and their families have access to adequate support, counseling, and information, and that no intersex child is subject to medical or surgical treatment during infancy or childhood.

The UN has consistently called IGM a "harmful practice" and "violence against children." The practice has already reprimanded Ireland, France, Chile, and Switzerland.