The idea that intersex is a social problem and not a medical one has been endorsed by governments outside the Netherlands for some time. We are only at the start of that process. But we can follow the example of Malta, for example, where the medicalisation of intersex is prohibited by law. We’re still trailing behind in the Netherlands, but I’m expecting a lot of changes in the years ahead Why and when did you decide to be a human rights advocate for people with intersex? I can’t remember the exact moment. In 2003 I took part in a TV programme – watched by an audience of almost one million. That was my coming-out and it probably marked the start of my work as a human rights advocate. But I was negotiating with doctors most of the time. Around 2006 I realised that I had been doing that for years to no avail. That was when it struck me that something else had to happen. Even then, it took ages before I made contact with the appropriate human rights organisations. Somehow or other, we managed to Miriam van der Have is director and founder of Stichting Nederlands Netwerk Intersekse/DSD (NNID, Netherlands Intersex /DSD Network Foundation) and Co-Chair of OII Europe. Founded in 2013, NNID advocates for the equality and empowerment of intersex people in the Netherlands.
achieve much more from a human rights perspective within a very short time than in all those previous years. The European intersex umbrella organisation OII Europe (Organisation Intersex International Europe) was founded in 2012 and now
Unfortunately, far too many doctors still take the view that
has 15 member organisations in 12 countries.
intersex is treatable. What we want as an intersex community is to be accepted as we are and to be able to explain to those
How can the LGBT movement and other non-intersex
around us that intersex is a variation that does not differ much
people help you to reach your goals?
from variations in sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Or having red hair or being seven feet tall.
There is still a lot of work to do. Most of the attention at
We don’t need doctors to deal with intersex – we need
present is focusing on the ‘normalising’ treatment that was
changes in society
administered by doctors without the consent of the person concerned. There are many more goals to pursue – intersex
Is it true that even in the Netherlands intersex children are
should play a role in many policy fields. But first we must
subjected to unnecessary surgical and other procedures
make governments recognise intersex as a human rights issue.
to try to make their appearance conform to the binary sex
The UN and all sorts of European institutions have done that
stereotypes of ‘boy’ or ‘girl’?
already, but many EU member states haven’t even begun to draft a policy on intersex. Support from LGBT organisations is
Regrettably, yes. It beggars belief, but here in the
welcome – OII Europe and ILGA Europe have co-developed a
Netherlands unnecessary surgery is still being performed to
very good toolkit for that.
make intersex children comply with the stereotype of boy or girl. And the willingness of some doctors to state in public
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that this is ‘needed’ is something I find simply astounding.
www.oiieurope.org
And I am not alone. These doctors get very little support in either the UN or Europe. Last year the UN Commissioner for Human Rights spoke about ‘impunity’, ‘perpetrators’ and ‘victims’. Plain language that we need to see in the policy of European governments.
Photo: Iolanda Swaen