The History of Intact's Circumcision Video
After sending letters to dozens of doctors asking for permission to videotape a circumcision, one doctor finally agreed in 1998, and the footage was taped. Since then, the video has been shown at the Fifth International Symposium on Sexual Mutilations in July of 1998 in Oxford, England; at the launch of Intact in October of 1999; at the American Men's Studies Association Conference in Buffalo, New York in March of 2000, and at the August, 1999 Meeting of Amnesty International's Executive Committee in Portugal. Stills from the video were also used in Amnesty International's Bermuda Section Human Rights Information Pack, distributed to over one hundred national Amnesty divisions.
Educators and activists from all over the world have requested copies of the video for use in their presentations and demonstrations from the United Kingdom to Australia. Because of the demand for the video and because studies have shown that parents more often choose not to circumcise their sons if they have seen a video of a circumcision being performed, Intact has decided to post the video tape on their web site.
This marks the beginning of a commitment to ensure that every member of the public—every parent or expectant parent, every lover of every circumcised man, and every victim can see a circumcision to find out more about what this mutilation entails. The images on this site will be constantly updated, improved and expanded to meet that commitment on an ongoing basis.
Some comments from those who have already seen the video:The tapes just came a few minutes ago. My Grandmother and I watched it. We are both still shaken. This is the first time either of us have seen an entire circumcision - thank goodness neither had our sons done.
—Gabrielle Rhodes, mother and Intact volunteer.
I understand the stress [taking, editing and watching the video] could give you — I walked out on it in tears. Your efforts to continue to make it available are commendable — my sympathies for what it costs you, emotionally. It is now more than two years since I saw it and the memory of that baby being tortured is still disturbing to recall.
Gary Harryman
Anti-circumcision activist and lecturer
Topanga, CA
I saw the video at the theatre in Toronto last fall. Very powerful. Anyone who can watch that and walk away thinking it is a harmless, innocuous, little snip that doesn't hurt the baby and do him irreparable physical, and likely, psychological damage and who doesn't see it as a human rights violation is deaf, dumb (in more ways than one) and blind - or has another "agenda."
And, for the record - I'm Jewish! This barbaric amputation is abominable and should be called what it is -"MUTILATION"!!!
Brian A. Waldman
Toronto, OntarioAnd these comments from Intact launch attendees:
"Graphic and disturbing...[in] my continuing research on the subject,.. the most detailed footage I have ever seen of the of the procedure."
"Very disturbing. Had to leave the theatre."
"Shocking."
"A must-see for parents and the public in general."
"Graphic, real, necessary."
"Graphic and difficult to watch—it brought me to tears."
"Horrific—I had never seen a circumcision before."