OII-Europe PRESS RELEASE

Two milestones for intersex human rights in Europe on the same day.

At the IDAHO Forum 2015 in Montenegro, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the Fundamental Rights Agency launched two documents that represent a true tipping point for the achievement of intersex human rights.

The Issue Paper on “Human Rights and Intersex people” published by the Commissioner Mr. Nils Muižnieks comprehensively maps how the medical norms of so-called female and male bodies have led to routine, non-consensual, medical interventions based on the misheld belief that sex is a dichotomy. The document also highlights the shame and secrecy around intersex bodies that allow these practices to go on for decades now, while the human rights of intersex people have been at stake and, for the most part, unaddressed.

The conclusions of the FRA focus paper are in line with the findings of OII-Europe and national Intersex NGOs. So-called sex normalizing treatments are currently taking place all over Europe, violating the rights of intersex people to self-determination and bodily autonomy. Governments throughout Europe should take action to ensure the inclusion of intersex people in anti-discrimination and equality legislation.

More information

Read the full statement by OII Europe website
Read the OII Australia press statement

The Commissioner issue paper can be found at http://bit.ly/CoE-intersex

The FRA focus paper can be found at http://fra.europa.eu/en/press-release/2015/rights-intersex-people-are-too-often-overlooked