Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Programme

ILGA World has an ongoing commitment to advancing the human rights of all people – regardless also of their gender identityrefers to a person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. More and expression, and sex characteristicsa term that refers to physical features relating to sex - including genitalia and other sexual and reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary physical features emerging from puberty. More.

Since 2015, ILGA World has had a dedicated programme to advance the rights of transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More people by strengthening work at the global and regional levels.

We have been part of milestone achievements, such as the removal of pathologising trans categories in the International Classification of Diseases in 2018, the creation and renewal of the first UN Independent Expert on SOGIabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity More. We have also co-founded the UN Trans Advocacy Week, in which a coalition of trans-led organisations and programmes has brought trans human rights defenders to Geneva annually since 2017.

In 2020, this work expanded into the new Genderrefers to a social construct which places cultural and social expectations on individuals based on their assigned sex. More Identity, Gender Expressionrefers to how a person presents their gender through physical appearance – including dress, hairstyles, accessories, cosmetics – and mannerisms, speech, behavioural patterns, names and personal references. More, and Sexrefers to the classification of a person as male, female, or other - usually made at birth, written on a birth certificate, and usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy. A person’s sex, however, is actually a combination of bodily characteristics, including chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics. More Characteristics (GIESC) programme, created out of our ever-growing engagement with intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More communities, our ongoing commitment to trans people’s rights and the recognition of the many common root causes of the challenges that these communities face.

The programme continues and expands our work on gender identity and expression and adds new coverage specifically on sex characteristics, working in strategic allyship with our member organisations, utilising our networks in Geneva and New York at the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility. More, and continuing to work closely with UN and international organisations.

Addressing human rights violations against trans and intersex persons roots in the assessment that violence, discriminationunequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds - such as age, ethnic background, disability, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions or sex characteristics, amongst others. More, and prejudice against persons of diverse SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. More have a common cause: the cis-endosex-heteronormative, ableist, cultural, medical, and social model in which gender and sex are perceived as binary, mutually exclusive, medically normative, or a consequence of a person’s particular body.

Rooted in feminist analysis, the programme seeks to expand ILGA World’s work in the field, build bridges, and strengthen allyship with feminist and women’s movements.

The Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics programme roots in the assessment that violence, discrimination and prejudice of persons of diverse SOGIESC has a common cause: the cis-endosex-heteronormative ableist cultural, medical social model in which gender and sex are perceived as binary, mutually exclusive, medically normative or a consequence of a person’s particular body.

The aims of the programme are to

• advocate for meaningful inclusion of issues of gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, in UN processes, international human rights norms and other global fora and decision makers
• raise visibility, awareness and allyship within the ILGA family and the wider LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More movement on issues pertaining to gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• work towards the true depathologisationthe recognition that no diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics is an illness. Depathologisation allows trans people to access trans-specific healthcare without a mental health assessment or diagnosis. More of trans, non-binarya person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. While many also identify as trans, not all non-binary people do. Non-binary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer or gender-fluid. More, gender-diverse and intersex persons at all levels

• support ILGA World’s research to holistically cover GIESC issues in the organisation’s research portfolio, ensuring trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex communities help conceptualise and deliver such research
• empower trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex communities, organisations and people in all their diversities to advocate for their rights with a particular focus on international mechanisms
• support community organising, led by trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people globally
• raise visibility and awareness on (SO)GIESC issues within intersectional feminist movement(s)
• provide an intersectional feminist and queerpreviously used as a derogatory term to refer to LGBT individuals in the English language – and still perceived as offensive by some - queer has been reclaimed by people who identify beyond traditional gender categories and heteronormative social norms. Although not universally accepted, it is often used as a catch-all to include many people within the larger community of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. More analysis on how gender backlash affects (SO)GIESC rights and can be countered
• uphold the fundamental human rights of bodily autonomy, bodily integrity and self-determination of trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people.