Recently, the first national conference on intersex human rights in India was organized by Srishti Madurai together with Intersex Asia. This groundbreaking event took place in the capital, New Delhi. The primary objective of the event was to advocate for a national ban on nonessential medical surgeries performed on children who have intersex traits. The stakeholders called on the Union Government to safeguard the human rights of these individuals.
The appeals made during the conference are in line with the stand taken by Tamil Nadu, which prohibited normative surgeries on babies and children unless the procedures are life-saving. This ban took effect in August 2019. Should the ban gain acceptance at a national level, India will be joining Malta and Taiwan as the third country globally to uphold the rights of intersex children.
Understanding the Term Intersex
The term ‘intersex’ is often confused with ‘transgender’, yet these two terms have distinct meanings. Transgender describes those individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex traditionally associated with the gender they were assigned at birth.
On the contrary, ‘intersex’ refers to people born with biological or physical characteristics that vary from the typical male or female bodies.
Global organizations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have urged their member countries to put an end to irreversible and invasive medical surgeries and other forms of medical treatment administered on intersex children.
The Role of Srishti Madurai and Intersex Asia
Srishti Madurai, established in September 2011, holds the title of being India’s first intersex and genderqueer-led human rights movement. This organization, based in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, seeks to carve out a space in the public discourse for LGBTQA+, Genderqueer, and Intersex Indians.
On the other hand, Intersex Asia is a strategic regional network comprising intersex-led groups and individuals from different Asian countries. Established in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2018, this organization works to support, educate, and lend a voice to intersex individuals. In particular, it focuses on human rights violations and discrimination that the intersex community faces.
A Snapshot of Some Key Facts
| Key Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Srishti Madurai | India’s first Genderqueer and Intersex led human rights movement established in September 2011. |
| Intersex Asia | An autonomous regional network of intersex-led organizations established in February 2018. |
| Tamil Nadu Ban | Tamil Nadu became the first Indian region to ban normative surgeries on children in August 2019, except in life-threatening situations. |
Looking forward: The Potential National Ban
If India implements the proposed ban nationally, it would become the third country in the world to legally protect the rights of intersex children. This move will follow the trail blazed by Malta and Taiwan, signaling a significant milestone in human rights globally. The anticipated step would also align with international calls to halt invasive, irreversible surgeries on intersex children, a stance advocated by bodies like the WHO and UNHRC.
