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Description
According to UN estimates, approximately 1.7% of the population have intersex traits. In Poland as well, one in fifty people have intersex traits, i.e. they are born with bodily characteristics that do not correspond to social or medical definitions of typical male or female bodies. Stigmatization of intersex traits causes isolation, loneliness, and mental problems. Young intersex people and their parents are left without psychosocial support. According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 62% of intersex people have experienced discrimination in at least one area of life in the last twelve months. Working with the Polish population has shown that some LGBT organizations include inter in their activities while in reality most of the needs of intersex people and those close to them are not met.This project addresses the need to empower intersex people networks and increase the level of their equality.We will operate online support groups for intersex people and parents; we will start annual meetings for them, attended by experts (female psychologists and sexologists, friendly physicians, human rights activists) and produce awareness packs. We will produce twelve podcasts on stages of psychosexual development featuring female sexologists and therapists. We will hold workshops for psychologists and two webinars for education specialists and teachers and for people who work on confidential helplinesThis will increase the number of people in the support network to 70, the level of knowledge among intersex people and those close to them, and awareness and competencies of professional groups working with inter people.Intersex people and those close to them, and representatives of professional groups in contact with intersex people, will participate.The partner Fundacja Interakcja will be responsible for producing teaching materials, workshops, webinars, and podcasts.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the need to strengthen networks of intersex people and to combat discrimination against them. Approximately 1.7% of the population is born with diverse sex traits (UN). In Poland, almost one in 50 people is intersex, i.e. born with a body that does not fit into the social or medical definitions of a typical female or male body. The taboo of variations in sex characteristics leads to isolation, loneliness and psychological problems. Parents and young intersex people are left without psychosocial support. According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 62% of intersex people have experienced discrimination in at least one area of life in the last 12 months. Some LGBT organizations add the prefix inter- to describe their activities, but the reality is that there is a lack of dedicated activities specifically targeting this group and most of the needs of intersex people and their relatives remain unmet.
The activities carried out within the framework of the project were mainly aimed at intersex people and their relatives, as well as at professional groups that have contact with intersex people (teachers, educators, psychologists). Online and on-site meetings of support groups for a total of 42 people (parents of intersex children and intersex adults) were held. Workshops for psychologists and webinars for teachers and helpline workers (100 people in total) were organised to raise standards of support for intersex people and their families. The project also produced educational materials such as podcasts (12 episodes) and two booklets, "Intersex - do you know what it means?" and "Fertility, relationships and intimacy: A guide to offering support to an adult with a variation in sex characteristics".
As a result, the knowledge of intersex people and their relatives about variations in sex characteristics and their rights increased, and their sense of isolation was broken. The level of knowledge and competence of professional groups working with intersex people has also been raised. The materials published within the framework of the project fill the gap of the lack of professional materials on intersex in Polish.