Intersex Event at the United Nations, 11 March 2014
The 25th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2014 witnessed a historic first: the first ever side event exclusively focused on intersex issues, titled Intersex People and Human Rights: Violations, Voices and Visions.
The event, on 11 March, was co-sponsored by ARC International, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, El Consorcio Latinoamericano de Trabajo sobre Intersexualidad, Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE), International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), IntersexUK, Organisation Intersex International (OII) Australia and Zwischengeschlecht.org.
The panellists presented both powerful testimonials and analysis, urging States to fulfil their responsibilities to stop human rights abuses directed against intersex persons, including violations of rights to health, dignity, equality, bodily autonomy, and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Several State delegates were moved to tears, and indicated afterwards that they understood for the first time that the "I" in LGBTI represented more than just an initial.
It was preceded, on Monday 10 March, by a speech to the Human Rights Council on behalf of participating NGOs.