25/10/2024 Equality and Non-Discrimination | LGBTI
On the eve of the Intersex awareness day (26 October), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE) made the following statement:
“The rights of intersex persons are not yet fully protected in Europe. They are frequently left out from policy-making and from awareness-raising campaigns on the rights of LGBTI persons. Too often, parents fear that their intersex children will be stigmatised and discriminated against because they do not conform to so-called gender stereotyped norms. Invasive procedures are performed and the notion of consent is being ignored.
It is the responsibility of health professionals to put the question of informed consent at the heart of discussions and to stop procedures without therapeutic necessity on intersex children and teenagers. Imposing an identity can have long-term negative physical and psychological consequences”, she added.
On the occasion of Intersex awareness day 2024, I call on Council of Europe member States to fully protect the rights of intersex persons, prohibit invasive procedures without therapeutic necessity and raise awareness amongst the population in order to prevent discrimination and violence”.