In a move marking Freedom Month, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has launched a national campaign aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of intersex children.
Central to the campaign is a newly released pamphlet and poster titled Intersex Children: Guide for Parents and Guardians, now publicly available for distribution.
New Guide Aims to Support Families and Healthcare Providers
The Commission said the initiative responds to the continued marginalisation of intersex people, particularly children, whose rights are often overlooked from birth.
The guide seeks to equip parents, guardians, and healthcare providers with information to support intersex children and to encourage more informed decision-making during early childhood.
Understanding Intersex Variations and Ongoing Challenges
Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. While these variations may not always be immediately visible, they can become more apparent over time.
According to the SAHRC, this can expose intersex individuals to social stigma, identity challenges, and unnecessary medical interventions when they are babies or too young to consent – known as intersex genital mutilation – that may have long-term physical and psychological consequences.
SAHRC Emphasises Rights from Birth
“The Commission affirms the rights of intersex persons from the moment of their birth,” it said in a statement, highlighting its constitutional mandate to promote, protect, and monitor human rights.
It further noted that decisions made by parents or guardians in the earliest stages of an intersex child’s life, particularly those relating to bodily interventions, can have lasting impacts if not approached with adequate information and care.
The SAHRC is encouraging widespread use of the guide, particularly among families and healthcare institutions, as a tool to safeguard children’s rights and well-being.
Intersex South Africa Welcomes the Initiative
Intersex South Africa (ISA) said it was proud to have been part of developing the guide together with the commission.
“This is an important step forward, and we are grateful to see the inclusion of intersex voices and lived experiences in shaping resources that affect our community,” said the organisation in a statement.
“Intersex people are born with natural variations in sex characteristics, and that’s a beautiful part of human diversity. But too often, intersex children are overlooked, misunderstood, or forced into decisions that can affect their bodies and well-being for life.”
Call for Better Support and Informed Decision-Making
ISA highlighted that parents and caregivers are often pressured or expected to make big decisions early on, sometimes without the right information or support.
“This guide is here to empower families with knowledge, encourage informed choices, and centre the rights and dignity of intersex children from birth,” it explained. “Every child deserves to grow up safe, respected, and free to be who they are.”
ISA further called on the Department of Health to meaningfully engage with intersex communities when developing or changing any policies that affect intersex people.
Concerns Raised About Gaps in the Guide
Peaceworth Maquba, Founder of Intersexions South Africa, also welcomed the SAHRC’s effort as a “helpful starting point” but expressed concerns about what they described as gaps in the guide.
According to Maquba, the guide leans heavily on medical and legal frameworks without sufficiently acknowledging the harm historically caused by these systems, particularly in relation to non-consensual medical interventions.
Maquba added that the guide also fails to connect families with intersex support networks, to explicitly identify non-consensual and non-emergency medical interventions as violations, or to offer clear mechanisms for accountability.
Advocates Call for Ongoing Collaboration and Inclusion
As the SAHRC campaign rolls out, advocates say the next step must involve deeper collaboration with intersex communities, not only to refine existing tools, but to ensure that future interventions are grounded in dignity, autonomy, and inclusion.
