1st ever EU policy document referring to intersex people released!

 — 

Press Release OII Europe

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union adopted Guidelines To Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Persons.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137584.pdf

OII Europe congratulates the Council on providing comprehensive and legally binding instructions to EU institutions and Member states on how to progress on the human rights of LGBTI people in contacts with third countries and with international and civil society organizations.

It is a truly significant development that intersex is mentioned in this document for the first time ever and we are confident that this is the first step towards stronger measures.

OII Europe understands the Guidelines to set standards for the EU internal LGBTI human rights policy. We are looking forward to the creation of efficient internal strategies which promote and protect all human rights of LGBTI persons within the EU.

We therefore encourage the EU institutions and Member states to take into account the realities of intersex people within the EU and to actively condemn discriminatory laws, policies and practices, which violate the human rights of intersex persons, to end discrimination against intersex people and to ensure the right of bodily integrity and self-determination.

 

Intersex people have a biological makeup (genetic, hormonal and physical features) which is neither exclusively male nor exclusively female, but is typical of both at once or not clearly defined as either.

download press release [PDF]