Ávarp Guðmundar Inga Guðbrandssonar, félags- og vinnumarkaðsráðherra, á alþjóðlegri ráðstefnu um hinsegin málefni: 

Dear all,

Yesterday, I felt like at home. I felt at ease. I felt like I belonged. You might ask yourself, why is this half bold, half gray, middle aged, upper class, white male trying to say! And, rightly so.

I am simply refering to my attendance at the 45 yrs celebration of the LGBTI+ organisation here in Iceland. Feeling at ease and feeling like you belong, even if its only part of the time, is truly truly worth fighting for.

And we are constantly fighting. And we will continue doing so!

I trust that you have all had a fruitful and interesting morning here in Harpa where we are commemorating the “International Day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia” - in advance, as the 17^th of May is the official day worldwide.

We should therefore use the opportunity to remind ourselves that all 365 days of the year are appropriate to fight against LGBTI+ phobias of all kinds, and strengthen the rights and equality for all.

Although we can be happy to be able to come together again in person, after the pandemic, renew our relationship and join forces it is of grave concern to witness the backlash we have seen in recent years when it comes to human rights and inclusion of LGBTI+ people worldwide, even from organized groups and instituitions.

Here governments as well as human rights defenders, and in fact we all together, have to speak up and push back the push back!

It is an honor for me to stand here today and speak about the rights of intersex people.

Equality and human rights are a priority theme in our government in Iceland and I am proud to say that Iceland did put LGBTI+ issues on the agenda of the Presidency in the Council of Europe.

We also put it high on the our agenda during our presidency in the Nordic Council of ministers this year.

We are really seeing our efforts in government over the last five years bear fruit and bring positive results. We have gone from seat number 18 on the Rainbow Europe Map in 2018 to seat number 9 in 2022, to seat number 5 in 2023. And now we are also number one for the first time on the ILGA Trans rights map. Does this mean that Iceland is a LGBTI+ paradise? No, it doesn´t, but it is certainly an accievement moving us in the right direction.

The topic of intersex is a topic close to my heart and I thank the SOGI unit of the Council of Europe for arranging this discussion here today.

Now, when we work towards advancing human rights and equality, policies and legislation are important to push for progress. Policies bring forth change in how we do things and, as a result, how we see things. Practical steps can change and even transform cultures and attitudes

It is estimated that up to two percent of babies born, don’t fit the traditional expectations of male and female characteristics, and for a long time, a predominantly medical approach has been taken to intersex people, often in the form of invasive medical interventions on infants.

These are non-consensual, non-lifesaving procedures intended to change the genital appearance and reproductive anatomy to fit subjective norms.

These interventions can cause physical and psychological harm and can lead to lifelong consequences for intersex persons.

In Iceland, for the past 10 years or so, Icelandic intersex human rights defenders mobilized to guard the rights of intersex people and to stop non-consensual invasive medical interventions.

From the year 2019, important legal milestones, when it comes to intersex people, have been reached in Iceland: Sex characteristics were included in discrimination legislation that applies to both labour market and other parts of our community.

And most importantly, medically unnecessary interventions on intersex children were prohibited. Exceptions are dependent on a thorough assessment of advantages and consequences in the short and long term. An expert group will be appointed this year to re-evaluate the exceptions and if they should be eliminated altogether.

Intersex people face discrimination in their daily lives and are often subject to social stigma and discrimination, including bullying, harassment, and violence.

They may also face prejudice and misunderstanding from healthcare providers and others in positions of authority. It is therefore important that we all work together to remove all types of stigma.

It is sad that we need to remind people that being intersex is not a physical disorder but a part of the human spectrum where all persons should be respected for who they are and be granted the right to bodily autonomy and appropriate healthcare.

It is also important to bear in mind that intersex people run the spectrum on both gender identity and sexual orientation and that we all benefit from diversity.

The right to bodily autonomy means that intersex individuals have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. This includes the right to refuse non-consensual medical procedures and to have control over their own medical treatment.

We must work together to raise awareness and understanding of intersex issues in our communities. This includes educating healthcare providers, educators, and the general public about intersexuality and the challenges faced by intersex individuals.

Due to the relatively small numbers of intersex people in any given population, it can be difficult for intersex people to find peer support and community. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

It is in our hands to safeguard the social acceptance of intersex people as well as all LGBTI+ people.

All of these aspects must go hand in hand if we want to see true change and be “United in diversity”

In conclusion:

• Intersex rights are human rights. Intersex rights are self-evident rights.
• Intersex individuals deserve the same rights and protections as anyone else, including the right to bodily autonomy, informed consent, non-discrimination, and access to appropriate healthcare.
• By recognizing and respecting these rights always, we can help to create a more just and equitable society for all.

Thank you.