14
Nov
Ban on Circumcision Proposed In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco man is trying to get an initiative on an upcoming city ballot that would make circumcision a crime.
Lloyd Schofield, the author of the measure, calls circumcision genital mutilation.
His proposed measure would "make it a misdemeanor to circumcise, excise, cut or mutilate the foreskin, testicle or penis of another person who has not attained the age of 18,"
Tattooing a child is banned as a felony and circumcision is more harmful than a tattoo, said Schofield.
Under the proposed measure circumcising a boy would result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.
Schofield must collect over 7,100 signatures for the measure to be included on the ballot.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, circumcision has been associated with a lower risk for HIV infection in international studies and clinical trials, and serious complications with circumcision are rare. 
Lloyd Schofield, the author of the measure, calls circumcision genital mutilation.
His proposed measure would "make it a misdemeanor to circumcise, excise, cut or mutilate the foreskin, testicle or penis of another person who has not attained the age of 18,"
Tattooing a child is banned as a felony and circumcision is more harmful than a tattoo, said Schofield.
Under the proposed measure circumcising a boy would result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.
Schofield must collect over 7,100 signatures for the measure to be included on the ballot.
Sign up for KTLA 5 Breaking News Email Alerts
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, circumcision has been associated with a lower risk for HIV infection in international studies and clinical trials, and serious complications with circumcision are rare.
01
Jul
Circumcisions kill 20 boys in South Africa
Circumcision is part of becoming a man for some communities
Twenty South African boys have died following botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape Province.
"The deaths occurred over the past 12 days, with nine of them occurring over the past 24 hours," said a provincial health spokesperson.
Some 60 boys have been rescued from 11 initiation schools which have since been closed.
Circumcision is seen as a rite of passage into manhood in some South African communities.
The practice is common among the Xhosa and Ndebele communities.
However, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini wants it reintroduced among the Zulu people because of reports that medical circumcision can reduce the chances of getting HIV.
The rescued boys have been taken to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.
"All 60 of them have septic wounds and are dehydrated," said Eastern Cape health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, reports Sapa news agency.
"Four of the boys even need their genitals removed completely, as it could result in death if it's not. We are just waiting for consent from their parents to perform the procedures."
Prosecution problems
Illegal initiation schools have become common in the Eastern Cape, especially in rural areas.
Unregistered surgeons often set them up as a way of making money, says the BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.
Earlier this week, seven under-aged initiates were rescued from an illegal initiation school run by a 55-year-old unregistered traditional surgeon who had been arrested several times for the offence.
"He was recently given a three-year suspended sentence but he continued doing the same thing. In the past five years, close to 20 initiates died in his schools and 15 had their penises amputated," said the Eastern Cape health department.
Health department officials are meeting the police, members of the justice department and prosecutors to discuss the prosecution of those contravening the Traditional Circumcision Act, which regulates the custom in the province, according to Sapa.
"The major problem is that parents are reluctant to prosecute illegal traditional surgeons who sometimes force their children into circumcision at a very young age," Mr Kupelo said.
"We identify the perpetrators, but if parents are not willing to open cases against them, they are freed and continue illegally circumcising and killing these boys."
Most initiations are either done in June-July or November-December.
Last year, 91 initiates died and hundreds were hospitalised in the province.
Twenty South African boys have died following botched circumcisions in the Eastern Cape Province.
"The deaths occurred over the past 12 days, with nine of them occurring over the past 24 hours," said a provincial health spokesperson.
Some 60 boys have been rescued from 11 initiation schools which have since been closed.
Circumcision is seen as a rite of passage into manhood in some South African communities.
The practice is common among the Xhosa and Ndebele communities.
However, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini wants it reintroduced among the Zulu people because of reports that medical circumcision can reduce the chances of getting HIV.
The rescued boys have been taken to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.
"All 60 of them have septic wounds and are dehydrated," said Eastern Cape health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, reports Sapa news agency.
"Four of the boys even need their genitals removed completely, as it could result in death if it's not. We are just waiting for consent from their parents to perform the procedures."
Prosecution problems
Illegal initiation schools have become common in the Eastern Cape, especially in rural areas.
Unregistered surgeons often set them up as a way of making money, says the BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.
Earlier this week, seven under-aged initiates were rescued from an illegal initiation school run by a 55-year-old unregistered traditional surgeon who had been arrested several times for the offence.
"He was recently given a three-year suspended sentence but he continued doing the same thing. In the past five years, close to 20 initiates died in his schools and 15 had their penises amputated," said the Eastern Cape health department.
Health department officials are meeting the police, members of the justice department and prosecutors to discuss the prosecution of those contravening the Traditional Circumcision Act, which regulates the custom in the province, according to Sapa.
"The major problem is that parents are reluctant to prosecute illegal traditional surgeons who sometimes force their children into circumcision at a very young age," Mr Kupelo said.
"We identify the perpetrators, but if parents are not willing to open cases against them, they are freed and continue illegally circumcising and killing these boys."
Most initiations are either done in June-July or November-December.
Last year, 91 initiates died and hundreds were hospitalised in the province.
22
Jul
Rael supports Luo Council of Elders: ‘Just say no to circumcision!’
LAS VEGAS, July 21 – Prophet Rael, founder and leader of the worldwide Raelian Movement, has declared his support for a group of African community leaders, the Luo Council of Elders, who have refused to cooperate with a governmental campaign promoting the practice of male circumcision in Kenya.
“Circumcision for men – like clitoral excision in females – constitutes sexual mutilation and should be forbidden,” Prophet Rael said in an official statement released today.
The Kenyan government’s policy is based on studies suggesting that circumcision protects men from contracting HIV and keeps them from infecting women.
“To supposedly protect the population from HIV by imposing mutilation on individuals is pure nonsense,” declared Lamane Hebie, spokesperson of the African Raelian Movement. “HIV can be contained if people are educated on how it spreads and if they are given access to condoms to protect themselves. This is what every government of our continent should organize and promote.”
Hebie added, “The decision of the Luo Council of Elders not to support the governmental campaign promoting male circumcision is remarkable. The wisdom of our elders is what is needed at the highest level of our governments.”
For exactly that reason, during his tour of Congo three years ago, Prophet Rael called for the traditional chiefs to organize and take the destiny of the continent into their own hands by creating the United Kingdoms of Kama. (Kama is the traditional, pre-colonial name for what we now know as Africa.)
Prophet Rael has also launched a worldwide campaign to help African women who have suffered genital sexual mutilation, since it is now possible to repair the damaged organs and help victims regain clitoral sensation as well as dignity. An organization established under the name of Clitoraid has already gathered enough funds to start the building of a hospital in Burkina Faso in which women will be able to have the surgery for free.
“Circumcision for men – like clitoral excision in females – constitutes sexual mutilation and should be forbidden,” Prophet Rael said in an official statement released today.
The Kenyan government’s policy is based on studies suggesting that circumcision protects men from contracting HIV and keeps them from infecting women.
“To supposedly protect the population from HIV by imposing mutilation on individuals is pure nonsense,” declared Lamane Hebie, spokesperson of the African Raelian Movement. “HIV can be contained if people are educated on how it spreads and if they are given access to condoms to protect themselves. This is what every government of our continent should organize and promote.”
Hebie added, “The decision of the Luo Council of Elders not to support the governmental campaign promoting male circumcision is remarkable. The wisdom of our elders is what is needed at the highest level of our governments.”
For exactly that reason, during his tour of Congo three years ago, Prophet Rael called for the traditional chiefs to organize and take the destiny of the continent into their own hands by creating the United Kingdoms of Kama. (Kama is the traditional, pre-colonial name for what we now know as Africa.)
Prophet Rael has also launched a worldwide campaign to help African women who have suffered genital sexual mutilation, since it is now possible to repair the damaged organs and help victims regain clitoral sensation as well as dignity. An organization established under the name of Clitoraid has already gathered enough funds to start the building of a hospital in Burkina Faso in which women will be able to have the surgery for free.
