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news about circumcision, genital cutting, and human rights

Africa

USAID Has A Disturbing Pro-Circumcision Twitter Account

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USAID Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Project has an creepy pro-circumcision Twitter account – @VMMCSouthAfricaUSAID.

The account appears to be mostly automated posts of pro-circumcision content, including a repeated Whatsapp number men can call for what they refer to as a “quick, safe and free” male circumcision.

Although the account is not verified, it is followed by other official USAID accounts, suggesting it is real.

The account promoted debunked circumcision myths like “improved hygiene,” asks women to encourage their men to get circumcised, and features stock photos of African men grinning.

In one disturbing post, USAID even suggests that women prefer surgically altered genitals.

Western scholars and human rights activists have criticized African circumcision campaigns for their bias, double standards, and human rights issues.

Yale Scholar Brian Earp Exposes World Health Organization Circumcision Bias

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In a recent twitter thread, Yale scholar and academic Brian Earp exposed the bias in the World Health Organization (WHO) circumcision manual.

In the thread, Brian Earp first shows that the World Health Organization is using studies performed on adults to justify genital cutting on infants.

Earp also exposes that one of the lead authors for the WHO manual on circumcision is someone who has applied for a patent on a circumcision device, and has a financial interest in the procedure.

Earp notes that this is a huge financial conflict of interest:

He also shows that WHO policy on male genital cutting contradicts their policy on female genital cutting:

Earp goes on to say that WHO “has sacrificed all credibility” on the issue of female circumcision by supporting male circumcision.

He concludes:

WHO has not issued any public response to these criticisms.

You can follow Brian Earp on twitter at @briandavidearp.