Council of Europe Adopts Resolution That Opposes Circumcision

The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is an international organization that promotes cooperation in the areas of human rights, legal standards, and democratic development.

(BOSTON) - Yesterday the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe agreed on a resolution in support of "children's right to physical integrity." The purpose is to reinforce the protection of children's rights, oppose violence against children, and promote children's participation in decisions that affect them. Genital cutting of male and female children are mentioned as examples of violations, often practiced without sufficient awareness or knowledge of the harm done to children and the adults they will become.

The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is an international organization that promotes cooperation in the areas of human rights, legal standards, and democratic development. The vote was 77 in favor, 19 against, and 12 abstentions.

The work of the Circumcision Resource Center and the Jewish Circumcision Resource Center (a section of the CRC) were used to support the report in favor of the resolution. In particular, information and references refuting claims of reduced HIV transmission for circumcised men and the JCRC website for Jews who are increasingly questioning circumcision were mentioned.

Ronald Goldman, Ph.D., executive director of the Circumcision Resource Center in Boston and author of Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma and Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective, appreciates the comprehensive arguments in support of the resolution. "We're very pleased with the hard work that went into this resolution and the decisive outcome. We hope this resolution expands the discussion of circumcision and children's rights and increases recognition of the physical, sexual, and psychological harm."

About CRC

The Circumcision Resource Center is a nonprofit educational organization with the purpose of informing the public and professionals about the practice of male circumcision. Its mission is to raise awareness and facilitate healing. Since 1991, the Center has been a valuable source of male circumcision information for parents and children's advocates; childbirth educators and allied professionals; medical, mental health, and academic people; Jews; and others. Dr. Goldman has participated in over 200 media interviews with local and national radio and television shows, newspapers, and periodicals. He also gives lectures and seminars on circumcision and counsels parents and circumcised men.