UN approves historic resolution to protect the rights of intersex people
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to discrimination, violence and practices that violate the human rights of intersex people.
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The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a historic resolution calling for an end to discrimination, violence and practices that violate the human rights of intersex people.
The resolution ILGA Mundo reported , was presented by Finland, South Africa, Chile, and Australia, and seeks to ensure that states guarantee the right to physical and mental health for intersex people. To this end, it calls on the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a global report reviewing discriminatory laws and policies, acts of violence, and practices that violate their human rights; including unnecessary medical interventions, which may be irreversible and are performed without the full, free, and informed consent of intersex people, especially children.
The resolution also seeks to analyze the best practices and legal protection mechanisms and legal resources that States have to guarantee the right to physical and mental health of intersex people.
What is intersexuality?
Intersexuality , or a "third gender."
According to the report Violence against LGBTI people in the Americas by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “violence against intersex people stems from a lack of recognition and acceptance of people whose bodies differ from the male and female body standard.”
ILGA's first (ILGA)), only six countries prohibit unnecessary medical interventions on intersex people.
A milestone for the defense of intersex human rights
The vote was approved by the Council with 24 votes in favor, 23 abstentions and zero against.
“This resolution marks another milestone in how international bodies view the rights of intersex people,” 35 intersex organizations said about the resolution.
“Over the years, the work of both civil society and states has gained enormous momentum, but this time things could take an even more decisive turn. Thanks to this vote, the first official United Nations report addressing the human rights situation of people with inborn variations in sex characteristics will raise awareness of this issue in a way that states can no longer ignore and will have to act upon ,” they said.
The Council expressed its concern about the violence and harmful practices faced by intersex people , including medically unnecessary interventions, infanticide, denial of legal recognition, birth registration, and discrimination in access to health, sports , and education.
“Intersex people exist in every part of the world . And yet, they continue to suffer widespread human rights violations. The importance of the United Nations addressing this situation to improve the lives of intersex people worldwide cannot be overstated,” added the organizations that defend the human rights of intersex people.
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