The Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG) sent ARC an email on September 14, 2011 announcing that it has started a campaign against circumcision of boys. This project follows in the wake of the excellent official statement opposing male circumcision that was issued by the same organization in May 2010. They asked that we pass the good news along to our friends and colleagues and that anyone who appreciates their action consider indicating so in feedback on the article. ARC has already posted its statement of support for the KNMG.
Steven Svoboda
Attorneys for the Rights of the Child
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 2:05 AM
Subject: Campaign against circumcision by Dutch doctors
Good day,
Please note the Royal Dutch Medical Association, the professional organisation for physicians in the Netherlands, has today started a campaign against circumcision of boys.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/09/doctors_campaign_against_risky.php
Best regards,
Gert van Dijk, KNMG
Doctors campaign against ‘risky and painful’ circumcision of boys
The Dutch doctors federation KNMG has again called on ministers, MPs and human rights organisations to speak out against the practice of circumcising young boys.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 boys are circumcised in the Netherlands every year, often on religious grounds and without anaesthetics, the organisation says. This is against human rights. The intervention is not without risk and is increasingly being seen as ‘not normal’, the organisation says. It is not calling for an outright ban because of fears this would drive the practice underground and lead to more complications. In particular, the KNMG says insurance companies should ask if they should be using public funds to pay for an unnecessary operation.