Mission Statement
Genital Integrity Awareness Week exists:
1) To raise public awareness of the basic human right to genital autonomy of all individuals, regardless of sex.
2) To raise public awareness of the damage inflicted by forced genital cutting, of boys, girls and intersex persons.
3) To positively recognize the prepuce ('foreskin') and its many functions, thereby changing the cultural mindset of the natural male body.
4) To raise public awareness of foreskin restoration options for those impacted by forced genital cutting.
5) To disperse research based information on intact subjects to a large body of individuals in Washington D.C. - students, educators, tourists, lawmakers, politicians - who take this information home with them to their own circles of influence.
6) To call upon congress and lawmakers to grant boys and intersex minors equal rights under law with protection from forced genital cutting, broadening the female genital cutting law of 1997 [18 U.S. Code §116 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/html/USCODE-2011-title18-partI-chap7-sec116.htm] and thereby be inclusive of all individuals without regard to sex.
History
Genital Integrity Awareness Week began April 1st, 1992 when David Wilson took a stand at Capitol Hill to declare that infant genital cutting was the 'biggest joke' on boys and men in America. Each year David returned to D.C., adding days to his solo demonstration with this same public proclamation. Van Lewis, who had years before been arrested for demonstrating against infant circumcision with his brother Ben Lewis in Florida, joined David. The two men moved their demonstration to the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and as more advocates took a stand alongside them, GIAW came to land at the Capitol West Lawn, where we now meet with hundreds of tourists, politicians, school groups, and policy makers every single day during this powerful week-long annual event.
Photo Galleries
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