25/10/2022 Equality and Non-Discrimination
“Intersex people experience discrimination in all fields of life, shaped by prejudice, ignorance, inadequate legislation and violations of their physical integrity and bodily autonomy,” said Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), the Parliamentary Assembly’s General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people, on the occasion of Intersex Awareness Day 2022. “While there is growing awareness of these human rights violations, there are still many challenges to address.”
“For older intersex people, the long-term impact of intersex genital mutilation, secrecy, shame and lack of access to medical records may be devastating, resulting in lasting distrust of medical professionals, fear of institutionalisation and lack of access to necessary health care. Lack of family support as well as lower income levels due to discrimination in education and employment may moreover lead to isolation and poverty in later life,” he underlined.
“Too little is known about these challenges, however, due a lack of data and research. On Intersex Awareness Day 2022, I urge States to supplement the work that is or should already be under way to improve respect for the human rights of intersex people by supporting research into the specific challenges faced by older intersex people and into how the problems that they face can be overcome,” he concluded.