The Council of Europe’s 46 Member States have unanimously adopted the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on Equal Rights for Intersex Persons, setting out the most comprehensive framework to date for protecting the human rights of intersex people across Europe. Today, 7 October, 2025, marks a watershed moment for intersex human […] The post Watershed Moment for Intersex Equality: Council of Europe Sets First-ever Comprehensive Standard for Protection of Intersex Rights Across Europe appeared first on OII Europe.

On September 26 2025, together with IGLYO, ILGA-Europe and TGEU, OII Europe submitted a Policy Brief in the context of the forthcoming EU Action Plan against Cyberbullying. The Policy Brief puts forward recommendations and priorities to protect LGBTQI youth from cyberbullying. Among LGBTQI youth, intersex youth experience alarmingly high levels of in person bullying, as […] The post Policy Brief on Cyberbullying & LGBTQI Youth: Priorities for the EU Action Plan appeared first on OII Europe.

On the 25th of August 2025, a group of 47 United Nations Special Procedures mandate holders published a joint statement reaffirming the central role of gender as an analytical lens to advance equality and human rights for all. The experts expressed deep concern at attempts to dismiss ‘gender’ as a key concept to understand systemic […] The post OII Europe welcomes UN experts’ statement on gender as a tool to advance human rights appeared first on OII Europe.

In 2020, the European Commission published its first-ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, marking a watershed moment for advancing and protecting the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people in the EU, including intersex people and the ground of sex characteristics. The 2020-2025 Strategy set down concrete and clear objectives and measures for the Commission to build on in […] The post OII Europe Submission on the next EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy appeared first on OII Europe.

In the last few years the European Commission has made significant advancements in implementing gender equality policies which include and benefit intersex people, particularly intersex women and girls. In 2020, the European Commission published its first- ever LGBTI Equality Strategy 2020-2025, which comprehensively included a clear mandate to work on a range of actions inclusive […] The post OII Europe submission on the EC Gender Equality Strategy appeared first on OII Europe.

Human Rights Council – 60th session side event Date and Time: 17. September 2025 12:00 – 01:00 PM CESTLocation: Room VIII, Building A, Palais des Nations, Geneva Join us for a critical event addressing the human rights of intersex people! Bodily integrity concerns us all. Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their […] The post Fullfilling the rights of intersex people appeared first on OII Europe.

On July 17, together with All Out, ILGA Europe, ENAR, IGLYO, TGEU, ERGO Network, EL*C, and AGE Platform Europe, OII Europe delivered a petition to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Signed by 32,000 people, the petition calls on the Commission to not withdraw its proposed anti-discrimination Directive (also known as […] The post Petition to the President of the European Commission appeared first on OII Europe.

In May 2025, OII Europe’s member organisation CIA-OII France, launched the FS2I, the International Intersex Solidarity Fund. This fund was created in response to the many requests for help and support that intersex organisations at national level receive from intersex people abroad who need to flee their homes due to the discrimination, violence and exclusion […] The post International Intersex Solidarity Fund appeared first on OII Europe.

Joint press release of the third-party interveners Today, 10 July 2025, in a pivotal judgment, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in the case of Semenya v. Switzerland. The Court overturning its Chamber judgment of 11 July 2023 found a violation of Article 6 § 1 (right to a […] The post Semenya v. Switzerland: Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights Judgment appeared first on OII Europe.

On June 10 2025, together with a group of 13 leading civil society organisations, OII Europe sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin, urging the EU to take decisive action to protect civil society. Across the EU and beyond, civil […] The post Safeguarding civil society in Europe – joint letter to the European Commission appeared first on OII Europe.

22 May 2025 OII Europe firmly denounces the verbal aggression experienced by a Belgian intersex activist during the Brussels Pride march, by one of the events’ organisers. On May 17, underneath the banner of “Unity – Time to protect our rights”, a Belgian intersex activist was verbally attacked with intersexphobic and ableist slurs and aggressively […] The post Intersexphobic attack at Brussels Pride 2025 appeared first on OII Europe.

Press Release – Launch of the Good Practice Map 2024 Today, on the 15th of May 2025, OII Europe is happy to present the publication of its Good Practice Map 2024! The map highlights some key advancements achieved in 2024 towards the better protection of intersex human rights across Europe. The 2024 Good Practice Map […] The post Good Practice Map 2024 appeared first on OII Europe.

On April 16th, the UK Supreme Court issued its judgement in the For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers case. The Court ruled that the term “sex” under the UK’s Equality Act only refers to “biological sex” and thus excludes trans women; OII Europe has been trying to make sense of how the new ruling will impact the lives of intersex people. The post OII Europe comment on UK Supreme Court Ruling appeared first on OII Europe.

We are happy to share with you our Annual Report for 2024. Read on from the introduction of our Annual Report 2024 and download the report as a pdf. The post OII Europe Annual Report 2024 appeared first on OII Europe.

On 25 March 2025, World Athletics announced that it will introduce new restrictive “pre-clearance requirements” following approval at the most recent World Athletics Council meeting, to mandate DNA testing for all athletes who wish to participate in the women’s competition. The new requirements would ask athletes to take a cheek swab test to look for […] The post World Athletics decides to mandate sex testing for women athletes appeared first on OII Europe.

Are you non-binary? Do you live in Europe or Central Asia? Are you 18 years or older? If so, we want to hear from you! Joint #Survey project by OII Europe, ILGA-Europe, TGEU & 4 academic organisers. The Survey is still open until April 30. More details here: https://www.oiieurope.org/law-beyond-the-binary-in-europe-and-central-asia-survey/ The post Non-Binary Survey Still Open! appeared first on OII Europe.

OII Europe is very happy to announce our next Community event and Public Conference, which will be held in person in Athens, Greece on November 27th-29th, 2025, where we will be hosted by our local host Intersex Greece! The post Register Now! OII Europe Community Event and Public Conference 2025 in Athens, Greece appeared first on OII Europe.

OII Europe expresses its deep concern regarding the intensifying pressures on LGBTI+ rights in Turkey in recent years, due to the government’s systematic policies which have put LGBTI+ individuals in increasing danger. Most recently, many activists, including journalist and LGBTI+ rights defender Yıldız Tar, have been arbitrarily arrested and unlawfully silenced. The persecution of journalists […] The post Increasing attacks on LGBTI+ rights in Turkey: Urgent action needed appeared first on OII Europe.

We write this with deep sadness and shock as we received note of the passing of Kris Günther, a treasured former board member, kindhearted colleague and passionate activist who made a lasting impact on OII Europe and the intersex community. Kris Günther was a founding member and served on the board of OII Europe from […] The post We mourn the passing of Kris Günther appeared first on OII Europe.

The European Commission plans to withdraw the proposed Directive on anti-discrimination. Sign to demand its reconsideration and keep working towards EU protection against discrimination in all areas of life. In a disheartening step backward for equality, the European Commission is considering the withdrawal of the proposed Directive on anti-discrimination—a pivotal measure designed to safeguard equal […] The post Equality at risk – Sign now to defend your rights! appeared first on OII Europe.

On 10 February 2025, World Athletics announced a new stakeholder consultation as part of the revision of its eligibility criteria for the Female Category at the elite level, alongside revisions to the existing DSD (Differences of Sex Development) and Transgender Regulations. Led by World Athletics’ Working Group on Gender Diverse Athletes, the revision claims to […] The post World Athletics is paving the way towards complete exclusion of trans and intersex women from sports appeared first on OII Europe.

European Civil Society condemns the European Commission’s announcement to withdraw the proposed Directive on anti-discrimination as a betrayal of fundamental rights at a critical moment for democracy and equality in the EU. On 12 February, the Commission publicly announced its intention to withdraw the proposal for the Equal Treatment Directive. This legislative measure aims to […] The post Equality betrayed: Commission unilaterally gives up on anti-discrimination law appeared first on OII Europe.