Legal protection for intersex children must come
Linz (OTS) – On May 10, 2024, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) published new ones Recommendations to Austria to protect intersex people. In points 42 and 43 of its “Concluding Observations”, the United Nations body advocates a legal regulation that prohibits treatment of children that is not necessary for their health. The committee also recommends that those affected by such treatments be compensated and that advice and support structures be created. These recommendations follow on from those of the CAT from 2015, which also called on Austria to ensure the protection of intersex people from harmful interventions. Austria has not implemented this to date!
VIMÖ has one as part of the procedure Alternative report to the UN committee transmitted in which the practices common in Austria were scientifically recorded. The report shows that there are more than 1,000 hospital discharges per year of children and young people with variations in sexual characteristics and that it can be assumed that many operations classified as IGM (Intersex Genital Mutilation) have been carried out. At the hearing on April 17, 2024, Austria admitted that these operations are still taking place. Reference was also made to legal regulations that were intended to protect minors from such interventions. “The problem with the legal regulations to date is that intersex is not taken into account or, as in criminal law, is even excluded. They are therefore not sufficient to protect intersex children and young people from harmful treatments.”
said Magdalena Klein, deputy chairman of VIMÖ.
This assessment is also shared by the Ombudsman, which in its report to the CAT also clearly advocates a ban on non-consensual and health-related interventions on children’s sexual characteristics. “We welcome the support of the Ombudsman and call on the government to finally address this issue and adopt appropriate measures.”
said Luan Pertl, chairman of VIMÖ Vienna.
Hnote: On May 11th, 2024, VIMÖ will celebrate its 10th anniversary from 6:00 p.m. in the Brotfabrik cultural center in Vienna.
Questions & Contact:
Tinou Ponzer, VIMÖ: +4373228700200
Luan Pertl, VIMÖ: +436763036149