Genital cutting and the dignity of the child

Speaker: Professor Kai Möller (LSE)

The genital cutting of girls (‘Female Genital Mutilation’) is usually seen as a grave crime, whereas the genital cutting of boys (‘circumcision’) is seen as unproblematic. Professor Kai Möller will make the case for assessing genital cutting not only or primarily in terms of the harm that such practices inflict on children but also in terms of children’s human rights and human dignity. He will argue that the genital cutting of children is wrong as a matter of principle because it violates the three dignitarian principles of moral autonomy, fundamental equality, and intrinsic value.