13/10/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
In a report submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, the association highlighted violations against intersex people.
Kaos GL Association submitted a report on intersex rights to the UN Committee Against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health.
In the report submitted to UN bodies, the association emphasized that a “blackout” is being carried out regarding intersex rights in Türkiye. Highlighting the lack of mechanisms to address non-consensual interventions and violations, the association stated in the report:
“Türkiye is not complying with its constitutional and treaty obligations regarding intersex rights. In intersex births, unnecessary, invasive and irreversible medical interventions are performed without consent. These interventions are both surgical and hormonal. When the assigned sex does not correspond to the intersex person's gender identity, it means imprisoning these individuals in bodies they do not want.”
The report emphasized that there are no clear provisions in Türkiye prohibiting unnecessary surgeries or other medical interventions on intersex children until they reach an age at which they can give informed consent, and included the following statements:
“There are no provisions explicitly prohibiting unnecessary surgical or other medical procedures on intersex children until they reach an age where they can give free, prior, and informed consent. There is no rights-based healthcare protocol for intersex persons. There are no established norms to ensure that intersex individuals are not subjected to unnecessary medical or surgical treatment during infancy or childhood, or to guarantee children's bodily integrity, autonomy, and right to self-determination. No public institution has been tasked with providing adequate counselling and support to families with intersex children. No compensation is provided to victims of such treatments, and medical and psychology professionals are not educated about sexual and related biological and physical diversity and the consequences of unnecessary interventions on intersex children.”
Intersex people are not recognized in the legislation, and consent is not obtained for surgeries
The association, which reviewed legislation, court decisions, and higher education theses, highlighted that there are almost no references to intersex people:
“There is no legislation in Türkiye concerning intersex individuals. There is no reference to intersex individuals in the existing legislation. The Constitutional Court has not issued any decisions in this area. Among the hundreds of thousands of theses published in the academic field, only eight relate to intersex individuals. This clear picture shows that intersex individuals are not on the agenda of the Republic of Türkiye at the policy, legislative or executive levels.”
The report stated that informed consent is not obtained for surgical interventions on intersex people:
“Medical interventions are performed on intersex babies even though they are not medically necessary. Conversely, interventions are also performed on adolescents who are not yet adults, without consideration for their mental and physical autonomy, and violations are increasing.”
Recommendations
The association made the following recommendations to the UN Committee Against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health:
- The immediate cessation of forced medical interventions.
- The provision of an informed consent mechanism for the child and the family.
- The establishment of compensation and rehabilitation mechanisms for past victims.
- Training and guidance programmes for healthcare workers. Regular data and report submission to UN mechanisms for monitoring.
Tags: human rights, life, health, lgbti
