22.01.2016 - Ciné-ONU Brussels started 2016 by once again teaming up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office for the screening of ‘Intersexion’ on 21 January.
A ground-breaking documentary in which intersex individuals reveal the profound challenges they face trying to live their lives in a society that fails to cater for them, the screening aimed to highlight the United Nations ‘Free and Equal Campaign’, a global public education campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality.
Navigating its way through touching and traumatic personal tales of Intersex people, the film served as a humbling exercise in what it means to be human and to bring an awareness to the condition and create a dialogue on the topic, which affects approximately 1 in every 2000 people.
The film garnered a considerable turnout with an enthusiastic audience filling the Italian Cultural Institute’s grand theatre and staying on for a fascinating question and answer session. Dedicated advocates from the Intersex community elaborated on some of the most pressing issues facing them in their work.
Panellists Miriam van der Have, Co-Chair of the Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII Europe), and Sophie Aujean, Senior Policy and Programmes Officer at ILGA-Europe, encouraged the audience to speak up and seek societal change.
They highlighted a glaring need to accommodate and adapt so that Intersex people are no longer stigmatized, marginalized and excluded in a world that only acknowledges people in terms of distinct ‘male’ and ‘female’ categories.
“A disorder is something you can fix,” Miriam said, “I am not a disorder.”
Dima Yared from OHCHR informed the audience about UN's activities on the rights of intersex people, including initiatives such as the United Nations Development Programme’s “Inclusion Index.”
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UNRICs Related Links
· Free and Equal Campaign
· OHCHR
Photo Credits
Michael Durickas
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
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