Jul 19

Jul 19 Statement from ILGA Asia IR Welcoming the Hon'ble Health Minister Announcement to Introduce State Intersex Policy in Tamil Nadu

Madurai, India
29 July 2019

ILGA Asia Intersex Representative welcomes today’s announcement by the Hon’ble Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, India that Tamil Nadu government will be drafting guidelines for intersex surgeries with the help of stakeholders and experts. In addition, the government has also shown its commitment to cater to the health needs of intersex persons. This is a significant development as it paves the way for Tamil Nadu to be the first state in India to have guidelines for the protection of human rights of intersex infants.

Earlier this month, Srishti Madurai along with Intersex Asia had organised the first-ever policy briefing meeting in Chennai. The meeting was aimed at bringing persons from the intersex community, medical professionals and genetic scientists together to assist the government in drafting the guidelines for intersex surgeries.

We hope that the guidelines adopted by the Tamil Nadu government are drafted in alignment with the judgment of the Madras High Court which highlighted the constitutional rights of intersex infants/children.

We pledge our full support to the government of Tamil Nadu in drafting the guidelines with a hope that the guidelines become a model for the entire country to follow. If accepted nationally, India will be the third country in the world after Malta and Taiwan to have a legal protection regime for intersex persons.