United Nations passes ‘groundbreaking’ resolution recognising intersex discrimination
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The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has made history by adopting a groundbreaking resolution aimed at combating the discrimination faced by intersex individuals. The resolution, which was passed on Thursday, April 4th, acknowledges that individuals with innate variations in sex characteristics have been subjected to discrimination in all aspects of their lives.
This first-of-its-kind resolution was initially proposed by the governments of Australia, Chile, Finland, and South Africa in February. It specifically addresses the violence and harmful practices that intersex people around the world are often subjected to. The fact that no member state opposed the resolution speaks volumes about the global recognition of the need to address this issue.
A total of twenty-four countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, India, Lithuania, The Netherlands, and the US, voted in favor of adopting the resolution. On the other hand, twenty-three countries, including Bangladesh, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, The Maldives, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, abstained from voting.
According to experts cited in the resolution, at least 1.7 percent of babies worldwide are born intersex, meaning they have sex characteristics that do not align with traditional binary sexes of male or female. This statistic highlights the prevalence of intersex individuals globally and underscores the importance of addressing the discrimination they face.
As part of the resolution, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a report outlining the various forms of discrimination experienced by intersex individuals and proposing methods to address them, including legal protections and remedies. Additionally, a panel discussion will be organized during the council’s 60th session next year to delve into the root causes of intersex discrimination and identify best practices for supporting intersex individuals.
The resolution has been hailed as groundbreaking by ILGA-Europe, a not-for-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy group. They emphasized the importance of European institutions and countries following and acting upon the resolution to ensure the rights and dignity of intersex individuals are protected.
US ambassador to the UN, Michèle Taylor, praised the resolution as a testament to the international community’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by intersex individuals. She highlighted the need for a human-rights-respecting approach that promotes autonomy, dignity, and equality for all individuals, regardless of their sex characteristics.
In conclusion, the adoption of this resolution by the UN Human Rights Council marks a significant step towards recognizing and addressing the discrimination faced by intersex individuals worldwide. It sends a powerful message that all individuals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their sex characteristics. The international community must now work together to implement the measures outlined in the resolution and ensure that intersex individuals are fully included and protected in society.
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