As representatives from Intersex Asia (IA), Esan Regmi (Chair) and Prashant Singh (Research and Advocacy Officer) recently participated in the 2025 World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting between April 24-26, 2025, in New Delhi, India. The summit, the first WHS regional meeting held in South Asia, brought together 4000+ global and regional health experts, policymakers, and civil society under the theme “Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity”. The primary objective for attending was to elevate the visibility of Intersex issues within the broader healthcare discussions. Additionally, the team wanted to engage with the key stakeholders to gain insights into critical challenges and innovations in health equity and health systems strengthening, covering themes such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Child and Maternal Health, and access to medicine. Networking with influential figures in the global health field was also a key goal.
Participation in the meeting provided a robust platform for discussions across a wide range of critical health topics. The objectives were largely achieved, offering significant insights into the crucial role of research, evidence, and political leadership in strengthening health systems. Discussions touched upon addressing SRHR access gaps for marginalized communities, leveraging collaboration with ally organizations to ensure access to medicine, and navigating the challenging global health landscape which necessitates stronger multi-stakeholder collaborations.
A crucial part of the IA team’s engagement was the effort to highlight the importance of including the concerns of the intersex community within the broad public health agenda. Although intersex issues were not explicitly mentioned in the Summit’s initial design, consistent engagement in various sessions and informal discussions allowed for this vital advocacy. The aim was to ensure that intersex individuals are recognized by influential stakeholders within the public health space. A critical focus in a limited number of sessions, and a key area of participation for the IA team, was on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), particularly addressing access gaps for diverse and marginalised communities amidst rising opposition and funding cuts. The importance of centering the rights, dignity, and needs of marginalized groups was highlighted.
The IA team members actively participated in several sessions focused on SRHR and child health. A significant highlight was attending the session organized by IPPF titled “No Health Equity Without Universal Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Justice”. This session convened regional experts, advocates, and activists to address stark inequalities in SRHR access in South Asia. It tackled various topics, including SRHR, trans and intersex rights, funding, and financing. The discussion underscored the urgent need for policy reform, human rights-based approaches, and inclusive healthcare systems that serve diverse marginalized communities, specifically mentioning transgender and intersex people.
Follow-up actions suggested by various speakers resonated deeply with the IA representative’s objectives, including countries investing in local capacity, pursuing interdisciplinary collaboration, engaging non-health stakeholders, strengthening public-private partnerships (PPPs), and pushing for accountability on SRHR commitments.
Attending the IPPF side event also provided opportunities to meet key organizations such as The YP Foundation, Centre for Reproductive Rights, and PMNCH, with plans to pursue future collaboration on joint projects. The experience at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting reaffirmed the need for stronger multi-stakeholder collaborations in light of the challenging global health landscape. The Intersex Asia team will build further on the connections made during the summit and expand its programmatic work on SRHR issues.
