The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has adopted a new Recommendation to member states on equal rights for intersex persons (Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)7), marking a historic milestone for equality, dignity, and human rights of intersex people across Europe.
This is the first comprehensive international legal instrument specifically dedicated to the human rights of intersex persons. Having been adopted by 46 member States of the Council of Europe, the Recommendation provides clear guidance to governments in establishing laws and policies that prohibit non-consensual medical interventions and ensuring that any interventions on intersex children are postponed until they can decide for themselves. It also recommends providing equitable access to healthcare, as well as preventing violence, discrimination and exclusion of intersex persons across all areas of life.
Official launch
The Recommendation will be officially launched on 27 October 2025 at an event in Strasbourg, with the participation of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. The event will be organised under the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and will bring together institutional leaders, intersex persons and their families, as well as representatives from European and international organisations. The event will be broadcast live online to enable broad participation across Europe and beyond.
That event will mark the start of the #EuropeGoesPurple campaign. Running from 26 October, Intersex Awareness Day, to 8 November 2025, the Intersex Day of Solidarity, #EuropeGoesPurple is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and OII Europe (Organisation Intersex International Europe), aimed at raising public awareness, visibility and political momentum for intersex equality across Europe.
Malta's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Secretary General Alain Berset
Read the Recommendation in full
