We are delighted to let you know that Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) has become a supporting member of OII Europe (Organisation Intersex International Europe)

WHAT IS OII EUROPE?*

OII Europe is the umbrella organisation of European human rights based intersex organisations. OII Europe was founded on Human Rights Day, 10 December, during the Second Intersex Forum at Stockholm in 2012 and is a registered charitable NGO since 2016.

OII Europe is an autonomous affiliate of OII (Organisation Internationale des Intersexués), a decentralised global network of intersex organisations, which was founded in 2003 and has operated since then through its national groups in every region of the world.

WHAT ARE OII EUROPE’S GOALS?

OII Europe works on the grounds of the Malta Declaration, formulated at the 3rd International Intersex Forum 2013 for :

• ·        full implementation of human rights, bodily integrity & self-determination for intersex people

• ·        legal prohibition of non-consensual medical & psychological treatment; medical practitioners or other profes - sionals should not conduct any treat - ment to the purpose of modifying sex characteristics which can be deferred until the person to be treated can provide informed consent

• ·        promotion of self-awareness, visibility and recognition of intersex people

• ·        full protection against discrimination & the adoption of » sex characteristics « as a protective ground

• ·        education of society on intersex issues from a human rights perspective

WHO ARE INTERSEX PEOPLE?

Intersex is an umbrella term. Intersex indivi- DO INTERSEX PEOPLE FACE? duals are born with sex characteristics that are either female and male at the same time or not quite female or male or neither female or male. Our sex characteristics and bodies are healthy variations of the human sexes.

Variations of sex characteristics might not be visible at birth. Intersex bodies can present themselves as intersex prenatal, at birth, during childhood, in puberty or in adulthood. A person may realize being intersex at a very early age or later on in life.

WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES DO INTERSEX PEOPLE FACE?

• ·         pathologisation of their bodies

• ·         medical interventions without personal, prior, persistent & fully informed consent

• ·         violation of their physical integrity

• ·         psychological trauma  

• ·         invisibilisation

• ·         stigma

• ·         structural & verbal discrimination

• ·         harrassment

• ·         lack of access to relevant or / and needed medication

• ·         lack of legal recognition

SITUATION IN GEORGIA AND WISG'S ADVOCACY

Challenges of Intersex persons living in Georgia are numerous, including sex normalizing surgeries. As a result of WISG’s advocacy, the study of the human rights situation of intersex persons, including access to medical services, has been included in the Action Plan of the Government of Georgia on the Protection of Human Rights 2018-2020 (Article 15. 15.3.3)[1]. However, no measures have been taken in this direction so far and the vision of fulfilling the obligations under the plan is unclear.

WISG is at the moment working on service provision and mobilizing of intersex community.

WE hope that through OII Europe’s knowledge- and experience-sharing, we will take important steps in regards of improving legal status and human rights of intersex people in Georgia.

[1] Human Rights Action Plan for 2018-2020