The UN Human Rights Council recently took a significant step towards combating discrimination against intersex individuals, who are born with sexual characteristics that differ from conventional binary perceptions of male or female anatomy. By supporting a resolution to confront such discrimination, harm, and violence, the council is addressing an issue that affects an often-overlooked segment of the population, a resolution which was embraced by a vote of 24 in favor, none against, and 23 abstentions.
Referenced as Resolution A/HRC/55/L.9, the Human Rights Council called upon the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report examining discriminatory laws, violent acts, and harmful practices against persons with inherent variations in gender characteristics across all global regions. In addition, it requested an assessment of best practices promoting the highest attainable physical and mental health standard for intersex individuals.
Despite the increasing awareness, intersex individuals continue to face human rights violations, as highlighted by the Office of the High Commissioner. These discriminatory practices vary widely, from infanticide to injustices in education, sports, and employment sectors. The forced medical procedures inflicting intersex children in compliance with binary gender norms are a particular concern, leading to potential irreversible consequences such as permanent infertility, pain, incontinence, loss of sexual sensations, and lifelong psychological distress.
It is imperative, argued the Commissioner’s Office, for states to enact legislation prohibiting unnecessary surgeries and procedures on intersex children, contributing to a greater recognition of the rights of intersex persons. According to a press release from the Office, it is crucial to address root causes of these violations, such as harmful stereotypes, stigmas, and pathologization of intersex variations.
Furthermore, in recognizing the unique health needs of intersex older persons, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) also notes that they suffer due to their physical diversity. This diversity can pose challenges in accessing and receiving adequate medical care. Many of them continue to bear the brunt of medical procedures aimed at conforming them to binary gender norms, which often lead to chronic pain, physical scarring, emotional trauma, hormone dependency, genital insensitivity, and sterilization, as pointed out in a statement by IACHR released recently.
The adoption of the resolution signifies a crucial move towards securing justice and ensuring the protection of the human rights of intersex persons across the globe, surpassing the narrow confines of society’s binary conceptions of gender.