The discovery of her intersex condition was only made during medical examinations due to primary amenorrhea. Intersex individuals possess both feminine and masculine sex characteristics, lack complete femininity or masculinity, or are neither feminine nor masculine. This can be evident at birth or become known in adolescence or adulthood, such as the detection of internal testicles in individuals who appear female or the presence of a uterus or ovaries in those who appear male.
Genres Pluriels, an organization that advocates for trans, fluid, and intersex individuals, states that there are over forty intersex variations that occur naturally among humans. Although there are no official statistics, the United Nations believes that up to 1.7% of people are born intersex, equating to approximately 196,000 Belgians. While intersexuality does not indicate any health problems, medical professionals often attempt to “normalize” or “correct” intersex bodies through hormonal or surgical interventions, including clitoral reductions, testicular removal, and vaginoplasty. However, these surgeries are usually unnecessary for health preservation or protection.
In the case of Coralie, the medical staff performed vaginoplasty only four months after the surgeon’s indication without any psychological support or explanation of intersex. The Huderf doctors did not obtain the consent of Coralie’s mother or the minor patient, and the risks of the intervention were not explained to them. Me Van der Plancke asserts that the dangers of vaginoplasty have been known since the 1970s, and the surgery is hazardous, painful, and difficult to heal from, requiring psychological preparation, especially for minors. Therefore, intersex surgeries are non-emergency interventions performed for non-therapeutic purposes that often inflict significant physical and emotional harm. They are regarded as human rights violations when not consented to in an informed manner, although Belgium doesn’t (yet?) prohibit these surgeries.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child challenged the Belgian parliament, which unanimously adopted a resolution in February 2021 requesting a legislative framework that protects the physical integrity of minors who are intersex. This framework ensures they will not undergo any gender-altering intervention without their informed consent, except in an emergency. It is now imperative to establish this legal framework for intersex people’s protection, according to the associations.
The teenager only discovered her intersex during medical examinations (here, after primary amenorrhea). Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that are either feminine and masculine at the same time; either not completely feminine or masculine; neither feminine nor masculine. Internal testicles are discovered in a child with the appearance of a girl; a uterus or ovaries to a child who looks like a boy. Intersex can be visible from birth or reveal itself in adolescence or adulthood.
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About forty variations
There are more than forty intersex variations that occur naturally within the human species, specifies Genres Pluriels, an association which supports trans, fluid and intersex people and makes their rights visible. In the absence of official figures, the United Nations estimates that up to 1.7% of people are born intersex, or around 196,000 people in Belgium.
Intersex does not in itself imply health problems, but the medical world, often uninformed of fundamental rights, still too often tends to want to “normalize” bodies, to “correct” them with medical treatments (hormonal, particular) or surgical interventions, indicates Genres Pluriels. We then practice clitoral reductions, removal of functional testicles, vaginoplasty…
The vast majority of these surgeries are not necessary to preserve or protect health.
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“All the lights were on”
In the case of Coralie, the vaginoplasty (creation of a new vagina) took place barely 4 months after the surgeon’s indication without any psychological support or explanation of intersex. The judgment also specifies that the doctors of the Huderf did not obtain the free and informed consent of the minor patient, nor of her mother.
The dangers of the intervention were not explained to them. “We have known since the 1970s that vaginoplasty operations are risky, cause pain and difficulty healing and require psychological preparation.insists Me Van der Plancke. All the lights were on.” Especially since the patient was a minor.
Intersex surgeries are non-emergency medical interventions performed for non-therapeutic purposes, which often cause a great deal of physical and psychological harm. Considered as human rights violations when they are not consented to in an informed manner, these intersex surgeries are not (yet?) prohibited in Belgium.
A resolution adopted in February 2021
In February 2021, the Belgian parliament, after being challenged by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, unanimously adopted a resolution asking the federal government for a legislative framework to protect the physical integrity of minors( e) s intersex ensuring that their gender characteristics will not be changed without their informed consent, except in an emergency. For the associations, it is now urgent to establish this legal framework for the protection of intersex people.
The case of Coralie sheds light on the mistreatment and disregard for the rights of intersex individuals in the medical world. The medical community must recognize that intersex variations do not equate to health problems and that surgery and hormonal treatments should only be performed when necessary and with informed consent. The adoption of a legislative framework to protect the physical integrity of intersex minors in Belgium is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to ensure that intersex rights are respected and protected. It is time for society to embrace and celebrate the diversity of intersex individuals and to provide them with the support and care that they deserve.