Organization for Intersex International (OII)

Bodies Like Ours

E-mail : rife@webglaz.ch
Phone and fax :
+41 (0)22 860 11 44

Mailing address :
RIFE
CP 214
CH-1226 Thonex/Geneva
Switzerland

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Intersex refers to a series of conditions which do not correspond to the established norms of the medical community which relies on arbitrary and variable criteria to differentiate males from females. About one child in 2000 is visibly intersexed at birth whereas other cases are not detected until later or never.

The present-day treatment which violates medical ethics consists of surgical reconstruction of the genitalia even when the child has no real illness or other major problem in order to “normalize” them by force.

This sexist medical practice has become more and more controversial because many adults who have undergone such treatments are denouncing these surgical interventions performed on them in childhood which have caused them physical, emotional and sexual problems.

On October 26 join us in organizing an International Intersex Awareness Day in favor of intersexed infants who are subjected to these mutilating practices.
 
We are an international coalition of activists campaigning in favor of intersexed persons and their allies and are organizing an awareness day in order to end secrecy and the shame caused by the genital mutilation of intersexed infants. 

These practices are as barbaric as the African ritual of female genital mutilation. They must be denounced vehemently.

We would like for this “day” to resemble annual events such as International Woman’s Day. We need your support and your participation wherever you are.

Visit www.intersex-awareness-day.org to find out more about what you can do to help us in your region.