In an exciting plan for early 2025, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will collaborate with the Department of Health to distribute the pamphlet Intersex Children: Guide for Parents through healthcare facilities across South Africa.
This initiative will be supplemented by engagements with medical professionals, parents and guardians, communities, and other civil society partners, all aimed at fostering greater understanding and support for intersex children.
Ahead of Christmas, the SAHRC took a significant step towards advocating for the rights of intersex persons with the launch of the pamphlet. This initiative comes in response to the ongoing neglect of intersex children’s rights, particularly during their formative years. The SAHRC, in line with its constitutional mandate to promote, protect, and monitor human rights, emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making from birth.
An intersex individual is born with a combination of sex or reproductive characteristics that do not conform strictly to the conventional definitions of male or female. These biological traits can manifest at various stages throughout a person's life, often resulting in complex challenges related to appearance and gender identity.
Sadly, intersex children's rights can be compromised from the very beginning of their lives, as parents may face difficult and often ill-informed choices regarding their child's physical attributes. The Intersex Children: Guide for Parents pamphlet serves as a crucial resource aimed at educating and empowering parents and guardians.
By providing comprehensive information, the pamphlet enables caregivers to make well-informed decisions that will positively impact the well-being of intersex children throughout their lives. The launch event featured a distinguished panel comprising prominent intersex activists, legal practitioners, and advocates dedicated to championing the rights of intersex individuals.
Among the speakers was former Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffery, who has played a pivotal role in crafting legislation that upholds the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities, including the adoption of non-binary language in legal contexts.
Advocate Lethlogonolo Mokgoroane, a passionate LGBTQIA+ activist, highlighted the importance of recognizing the unique experiences of intersex children within the broader LGBTQIA+ community, emphasizing that it is not a monolith. Thiruna Naidoo from Outright International brought attention to the issue of "conversion practices" that harm individuals by attempting to alter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Crystal Hendricks, Chair of the ILGA World Intersex Steering Committee, shared her insights from her work in developing the pamphlet in collaboration with various civil society organizations. The panel's discussions ranged over critical human rights violations affecting intersex persons, including intersex genital mutilation, harmful cultural practices, the shocking issue of infanticide, the urgent need for gender-affirming healthcare, and the intersectional discrimination faced by intersex individuals. These discussions illuminated the numerous challenges that intersex persons encounter, often exacerbated by societal misunderstandings and prejudices.
Moreover, the SAHRC is poised to address human rights violations against intersex individuals head-on. Recently granted permission to intervene in the Caster Semenya v Switzerlandcase, the Commission stands firm in its commitment to uphold the rights of intersex persons.
The Grand Chamber of this landmark case was prompted by a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in July 2023, which affirmed that Semenya's rights had been violated, advocating for her rights to non-discrimination, respect for private life, and the availability of effective remedies.
The SAHRC is enthusiastic about its ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders to advance and protect the rights of intersex persons in South Africa. Further details regarding the pamphlet's dissemination and related initiatives will be communicated in due course.
