Intersexuality in Germany

Commissioned by the Federal Government, the German Ethics Council is currently preparing an Opinion on the situation of intersex people in Germany. The aim of the Opinion is to provide a differentiated analysis of the situation of and challenges for intersex people. In a multi-step discussion process, the Ethics Council would like to continue the dialogue with persons concerned and self-help organisations as well as experts, a dialogue which it had already started in June 2010 with the public event “Intersexuality – Life Between the Sexes”.

Therefore, on 2 May 2011, the German Ethics Council launched in a first step a survey addressed to intersex people. This survey will run until 19 June 2011. In addition, the Ethics Council has asked doctors, therapists, social scientists and lawyers with relevant expertise for a written statement.

As second step in preparing the Opinion, a public hearing is planned, to which intersex people and experts from various disciplines have been invited.

Following this hearing, the Ethics Council plans to hold an online discussion in a third step, not only to collect further important information, but also to initiate a mutual exchange between those concerned and experts. In this way, the German Ethics Council aims at establishing a solid empirical basis for its Opinion. You are cordially invited to participate in this process.