On March 2, 2020, a CEDAW pre-sessions was held in Geneva, where the committee heard reports from Ukrainian representatives, besides others, a lawyer Oksana Guz, who represented at this meeting the Egalite Intersex Ukraine. ADC Memorial provided her with comprehensive assistance and support, for which we express them our sincere gratitude.

The following is a shorthand record of Oksana Guz speech:

Thank you, Madam President.

I will speak Ukrainian and my colleague will help me with translation.

I am Oksana Guz, representative of the Egalite intersex Ukraine NGO.

Briefly I want to speak on two issues: the Labor Code, and the situation of intersex people.

Welcoming the cancellation of the list of forbidden professions, I draw attention to the fact that not all government agencies and businesses are aware of this, therefore women are not sufficiently informed about the opportunities to work in such professions. Ukraine is changing the Labor Code and we are concerned that the projects proposed not include the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of SOGI and remain untouched the norms that forbid the work of women in certain professions.

It was first mentioned in Ukraine about intersex people in 2016 when the Action Plan on Human Rights Strategy was approved. Medical reform is ongoing in the country, but the changes do not cover the needs of intersex people. There is still no medical education programs in Ukraine that address the needs of intersex people. The Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine ignores issues related to intersex:

  1. “Normalizing” operations are imposing on children;
  2. Adults are deprived of quality medical care.

There is no legal procedure in Ukraine that allows intersex people to make changes to their ID documents.

 

Recommendations:

  1. To adopt legislation that directly prohibits the conduct of surgical or other irreversible medical interventions for intersex children until they reach the age for consent.
  2. Develop and adopt a procedure for introducing changes in identity documents for intersex people.
  3. Ensure to intersex people to have access to non-discriminatory medical services that are using best international practices.

Thank you for attention.