Rooted in Community, Rising in Power*: Africa’s Intersex Movement Claims Its Future

On October 2, 2026, more than 50 African intersex activists from over 20 countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the inaugural African Intersex Movement (AIM) Conference to adopt the historic Nairobi Declaration. This powerful statement of shared priorities and collective determination marks an important milestone in the growing African movement for intersex people’s rights.

The Declaration’s theme, “Rooted in Community, Rising in Power,” captures something profound: across Africa, intersex people are not simply demanding recognition. They are building a movement, strengthening organizations, influencing policy, and claiming their rightful place in decisions affecting their lives.

I had the privilege of attending this historic gathering and witnessing firsthand the extraordinary leadership, resilience, and solidarity of activists from across the continent. What struck me most was the determination and collective power of a movement increasingly shaping its own future.

For generations, intersex Africans – people born with variations in sex characteristics – have experienced stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations, including infanticide, medically unnecessary surgeries without consent, and exclusion from education, healthcare, and employment.

Yet this is only part of the story.

Across Africa, courageous advocates have founded intersex-led organizations, supported families, educated communities, documented abuses, and engaged policymakers. Often working with limited resources, they have built networks of solidarity and advocacy that are producing meaningful change.