Kenya: Intersex persons forced to undergo surgery — KNCHR

Some intersex people have undergone genital surgery without their consent, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has said.

 In some cases the procedures were botched resulting in death, KNCHR said.

 The revelation was made on Tueday in Mombabsa during a stakeholders’ forum.

 The Attorney General in May last year appointed a task force on policy, legal, institutional and administrative reforms regarding intersex persons.

 The team is tasked with compiling comprehensive data on the number, distribution and problems faced by the minority group.

 The study is ongoing but preliminary results were discussed at the Mombasa meeting.

 Intersex refers to a condition in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t to fit the typical definition of female or male.

 The task force has already conducted a pilot and three phases of the study.

 A fourth phase is planned.

 Traditionally, intersex persons were linked to misfortunes and killed at birth.  Read more via the Star