Based in Taiwan, Intersex Asia is a regional network of intersex-led organizations and individuals from Asian countries that work to support, educate, and advocate for the rights and lives of intersex individuals and raise awareness of human rights violations and discrimination faced by intersex communities.
In 2019, Intersex Asia developed its first strategic plan for 2019 and 2020. This was very much a strategy to get Intersex Asia up and running as a new regional organization in Asia, composed initially of key intersex voluntary grassroots organizers from Asia. As the 2019-2020 period came to an end, Intersex Asia’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2024 was developed and used as the backbone of our organization’s operation.
Some key achievements as guided by the Strategic Plan which ended in 2024
- Capacity Building: Over the past 4 years, we have cultivated a fellowship program at the regional level and national level that has trained and supported 28 emerging intersex activists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Philippines.
- Community Building: Intersex Asia facilitated national intersex community meetings in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Philippines, increasing more than 100 members in both organizations.
- Research: In 2021, as part of our research initiative, we released the first research study on the current state of intersex rights in 12 Asian countries.
- Advocacy: In 2024, after almost a decade of advocacy, Intersex Asia and the global intersex movement successfully mobilized the UN Human Rights Council to pass the first-ever resolution for intersex rights.
- Awareness Raising: Launched in 2021, we published 16 quarterly volumes of “IA Quarterly”– the first intersex newsletter to raise intersex awareness by sharing our updates from the intersex movement in Asia and intersex legal developments worldwide.
- Knowledge Building: As a knowledge hub, Intersex Asia provides translations of essential resources, such as the UN Intersex Factsheet and the Asian Intersex Statement, into 15+ Asian languages to facilitate effective advocacy and education.
- Support intersex people at risk: Since 2020, we established an Emergency Fund that has provided essential support to over 110 Intersex individuals who faced risks such as COVID-19 impacts and natural disasters.
- Movement Building: Intersex Asia has continued to host the Asian Intersex Forum since 2018. The number of intersex participants has increased from 14 to 45 participants in the 4th Asian Intersex Forum concluded on Feb 22, 2025 in Kathmandu, bringing new voices to the movement.
Strategic Plan 2025 to 2029
Intersex Asia is proud to announce the launch of its Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2029. Besides the original three goals,1) building intersex communities and organizations in Asia, 2) promoting policy change for protecting intersex rights in Asia 3) Improving the support to intersex children and intersex people at risk, this comprehensive strategy introduces three additional goals to its previous plan: 4) strengthening the organization’s sustainability, 5) fostering cross-movement collaborations, and 6) actively contributing to the development of the global intersex movement. Furthermore, the scope of its work has been expanded to encompass seven key areas: Capacity Building, Awareness Raising, Network Building, Research, Advocacy, Community Building, and Cross-Movement Building. This plan reflects Intersex Asia’s commitment to advancing its mission and creating a meaningful impact within and beyond the intersex community.
Our Vision Statement is, “Intersex Asia envisions creating a world where all Intersex Individuals are protected, respected, and empowered to live their lives to their fullest potential”.
Our Mission Statement is “Intersex Asia is dedicated to protecting and advancing the human rights of Intersex communities in Asia, amplifying their voices, and advocating for their rights to life, bodily integrity, and self-determination to be respected”.
Our Strategic plan upholds the principle of ‘ Nothing About Us Without Us’.
Hiker Chiu, Executive Director of Intersex Asia, says, “Intersex Asia’s strategic plan, grounded in community voices and needs, will direct our initiatives, invigorate our advocacy, and guide us through upcoming challenges as we strive to create meaningful change in Asia.”
Esan Regmi, Chair of Intersex Asia says “ I “ exist and Intersex Rights are human rights. Through deliberate actions and initiatives outlined in our strategic plan, we can work towards achieving equality and justice for intersex individuals across Asia.
Our strategic plan is tailored to meet the specific needs of our member organizations and networks, intersex activists & and leaders, and Intersex individuals. It also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Goal # 3: Good Health and Well-being; Goal # 5: Gender Equality; Goal # 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal # 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Furthermore, it outlines actionable steps aimed at fostering inclusivity and solidarity across diverse movements dedicated to promoting intersex rights in the region. For more details about Strategic Plan 2025 to 2029, please click here.
We at Intersex Asia are thrilled to officially launch our strategic plan on 25 February during the ILGA Asia Conference in Nepal. We believe that this strategic plan will serve as a guiding framework for our initiatives and efforts in promoting intersex rights across Asia. Together, we can build awareness, advocate for necessary legal reforms, and create supportive environments that recognize and uphold the dignity of all intersex people.
Read our Strategic Plan 2025-2029 here
