Transforming Lives Through Advocacy—The Intersex Society of Zambia's Journey

The Intersex Society of Zambia (ISSZ), founded in 2018 by intersex activist Mphatso Sakala, provides advocacy, education, and psychosocial support to intersex individuals and their families. Drawing from his own experiences of rejection and misunderstanding, Sakala created ISSZ to address the stigma and legal invisibility faced by intersex people in Zambia. The organization educates parents, like Miriam, on informed decision-making, discouraging irreversible surgeries until intersex individuals can give consent. ISSZ also empowers intersex individuals, offering counseling and creating a sense of belonging for those, like Chanda, who have endured societal mockery and discrimination.
ISSZ aims to foster societal understanding as a foundation for legal reforms, such as recognizing intersex individuals in formal documents and advocating against discrimination. Inspired by Kenya’s inclusion of intersex people in its national census, Sakala envisions similar progress in Zambia. However, ISSZ’s work is limited by funding constraints, which hinder the expansion of outreach and public education programs. Despite these challenges, ISSZ continues to transform lives and advocate for a future where intersex individuals are embraced with dignity, equality, and compassion.