Matthias Becker

Matthias Becker is the 1st chairman of the state working group Jungen*- und Männer*arbeit Bayern e.V. (Boys* and Men* Work Bavaria).

In 2020 he spoke in a video message on WWDOGA:

“

Hi. I am Matthias Becker, I am the chairman of the state working group for Boys* and Men* Work in Bavaria. As LAG Boys* and Men*work in Bavaria, we participate and support the World Day of Genital Autonomy. May 7 has now become a symbol of the right of self-determination of minors regardless of gender, origin, religion and tradition. The aim is to promote the right to physical integrity and sexual self-determination for all children worldwide. This day is also of particular importance for the LAG Boys* and Men* Work in Bavaria, since female genital mutilation in girls and women and boy circumcision represent a clear, intolerable violation of human rights and it is our responsibility to make everyone aware of this and fight against it. Circumcision of male children without medical indication is to be condemned as physical injury. There are a large number of boys and men who suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of circumcision as a child. We therefore demand equal protection of all children, regardless of gender, against non-therapeutic genital surgery. Gender equality and child protection are visible here as very individual and multi-layered challenges in different continents and cultures. As LAG Boys* and Men* Work in Bavaria, we stand for an open exchange and dialogue in order to develop ways to implement protection for boys. Public research and education is needed on the consequences of non-therapeutic genital surgery on children in their different forms and social contexts. We hope that the "World Day of Genital Autonomy" on May 7th will find a lot of publicity and attention and thereby take the topic one step further. Good luck and thank you very much! – Matthias Becker (WWDOGA 2020)