Council of Europe: Recommendation on equal rights for intersex persons

On 7th October, 2025, a milestone for protecting the human rights of intersex persons across Europe was reached in Strasbourg. The Council of Europe unanimously adopted a new Recommendation, the first comprehensive international legal instrument specifically dedicated to the human rights of intersex persons.

The Recommendation CM/Rec(2025) offers to 46 member States’ governments clear guidance in establishing law prohibiting non-consensual medical interventions and ensuring that any interventions on intersex children are postponed until they can express a free and informed consensus. It also recommends governments to take positive measures in order to guarantee equality in access to sport, education, work and justice and to prevent violence, discrimination and exclusion of intersex people across all areas of life. Furthermore, the Recommendation provides dispositions for governments on addressing the needs of intersex persons in their access to healthcare and social care, on their right to private and family life, on the right to asylum and on data collection.

The official launch of the Recommendation will occur on 27th October 2025 at an event in Strasbourg, organized by the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, marking the start of the #EuropeGoesPurple campaign (26th October - 8th November). Institutional leaders, intersex persons and their families, as well as representatives from European and international organisations will be present and it will be possible to follow the event online.

#EuropeGoesPurple is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and OII Europe, aimed at raising public awareness, visibility and political momentum for intersex equality. During the campaign, throughout Europe buildings, landmarks and digital spaces will light up in purple, in solidarity with intersex persons and in celebration of visibility and equal rights.