The letter demands urgent action from the UK government following the publication of its Variations in Sex Characteristics: Call for Evidence findings in June 2026
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE VIA CANVA/BASE IMAGE
Intersex Awareness Day is an international annual day of observation which highlights the human rights issues and lived experiences of intersex people. This year’s Intersex Awareness Day also marked its 30th anniversary. Marking the occasion, a coalition of intersex people, people with variations in sex characteristics (I/VSC), charities, advocates and academics issued an open letter to the UK government. Said letter demands urgent action following the publication of its Variations in Sex Characteristics: Call for Evidence findings in June 2026.
The government’s findings highlight grave concerns. It found that among people with variations in sex characteristics who responded to the call for evidence…
- 87% had undergone medical procedures, yet fewer than a third felt they had given informed consent. Of those undergoing interventions, 70% reported that these began before the age of 18, including almost 20% before the age of two.
- 80.6% had undergone further procedures, with more than two-thirds requiring repetitions of the same procedure.
- 83% reported inadequate access to psychological support following diagnosis.
- Only 40% had been told about their variations by doctors, with others discovering this information through different means.
- 60% reported barriers to accessing healthcare because of anxiety and fear.
The letter has three clear calls to action for the government
The first is to establish clear ministerial accountability. It calls on the government to appoint a named minister and senior civil servant to coordinate a cross-government response and engage in a meaningful way with affected communities.
The second action point is to publish a strategy and timetable for reform. The signees have called on the government to implement the Council of Europe’s 2025 Recommendation on equal rights for intersex people and respond to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s 2023 recommendations – beginning with an enforceable ban on medically unnecessary surgeries and interventions.
The final demand is to commit to an independent public inquiry. People are calling on the government to hear from affected people and recommend reforms, including improved monitoring of medical interventions and support.
You can read the full open letter here: openletter.earth/open-letter-government-action-on-variations-in-sex-characteristics-b1968a9b
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