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The Intersex Society of Zambia (ISSZ) has called on the government and other countries to provide legal recognition and protection for intersex individuals, including their rights to identity, name, and sex or gender registration.
ISSZ Executive Director, Mphatso Sakala, said that despite growing awareness, intersex individuals continued to face significant challenges globally.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday to mark World Intersex Awareness Day, Sakala noted that the lack of legal recognition has deepened the marginalization and exclusion of intersex people.
He said stigma, discrimination, and medical interventions without informed consent remained pervasive issues.
Additionally, many intersex individuals struggle to access healthcare, education, and social services due to limited understanding and acceptance within communities and institutions, according to him.
“Today, we join the global community in observing Intersex Awareness Day. We stand in solidarity with intersex individuals, families, and allies, advocating for a world where everyone can live with dignity and respect,” Sakala said.
He urged governments to uphold bodily autonomy, promote self-determination, and strengthen education and awareness initiatives to combat stigma and discrimination.
Sakala further emphasized the need to ensure access to inclusive healthcare and social services, which he said remain largely elusive.
“Intersex Awareness Day is an international day of grassroots action to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital mutilation or cosmetic surgeries on intersex children. The day also provides an opportunity for reflection and political action,” he said.
He explained that intersex people were those born with physical or biological sex characteristics—such as sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal patterns, or chromosomal traits—that do not fit typical definitions of male or female bodies.
Sakala added that while some intersex traits were visible at birth, others become apparent later in life, often at puberty.
“Intersex infants, children, and adolescents are subjected to medically unnecessary surgeries, hormonal treatments, and other procedures in an attempt to forcefully alter their appearance to conform to societal expectations regarding female and male bodies,” he said.
He noted that in most cases, these procedures were carried out without the full, free, and informed consent of the individuals concerned, amounting to violations of fundamental human rights.
Sakala urged governments, healthcare providers, and communities to respect and protect the rights of intersex persons.
“Let us collaborate to establish a Zambian, regional, and global society where intersex individuals can live dignified, devoid of discrimination and apprehension. Collaboratively, we can construct a more inclusive society,” he emphasized.
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