Ritual Male Infant Circumcision and Human Rights

Abstract

Opponents of male circumcision have increasingly used human rights positions to articulate their viewpoint. We characterize the meaning of the term "human rights." We discuss these human rights arguments with special attention to the claims of rights to an open future and to bodily integrity. We offer a three-part test under which a parental decision might be considered an unacceptable violation of a child's right. The test considers the impact of the practice on society, the impact of the practice on the individual, and the likelihood of adverse impact. Infant circumcision is permissible under this test. We conclude that infant circumcision may be proscribed as violating local norms, even though it does not violate human rights.

Growing World Consensus to Leave Circumcision Decision to the Affected Individual

“…Gregory L. Bock, Walters State Community College Jacobs and Arora (2015) argue convincingly for the permissibility of ritual male infant circumcision in general, but they allow for the state to prohibit the practice if it violates local norms. They say that such a ban would be permissible unless it amounts to unethical discrimination.…”

“…Of course it is permissible to breach an individual's body envelope, when doing so is medically necessary or is done with informed consent. As Jacobs and Arora (2015) write: "Even amputation and organ removal are considered ethical when medically necessary" (35). Needless to say, however, neither amputation nor organ removal are permitted with both the lack of the affected person's consent and a lack of medical necessity, as is the case with circumcision.…”

Female genital mutilation and male circumcision: toward an autonomy-based ethical framework

“…62,137,138 Orthodontic treatment is another childhood bodily modification that is sometimes compared with genital cutting. 139 Similar to vaccinations, dental braces do not remove nor risk damaging erogenous tissue, k and (moreover) they are usually put on with the age-appropriate consent of the affected individual. Although braces may be uncomfortable, and although they do make a difference to physical appearance, both the degree of discomfort and the type of alteration to appearance fall well within the child's understanding.…”

Neonatal Male Circumcision, If Not Already Commonplace, Would Be Plainly Unacceptable by Modern Ethical Standards

“…One might well ask why neonatal male circumcision (NMC), defended by Jacobs and Arora (2015) in their target article, is any different. Indeed, in a number of respects this is a far more radical procedure.…”