We are Intersex Human Rights Australia

Intersex people are born with physical sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies. We have many different kinds of bodies and life experiences.

Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) is a national body by and for people born with variations of sex characteristics. We promote human rights and bodily autonomy, and provide information, education, and an online peer support group. We were formerly known as OII Australia.

Our goals are to help create a society where intersex bodies are not stigmatised, and where our rights as people are recognised.
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Submissions to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

OHCHR

IHRA has made a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in respect of a current review of Australia’s actions to meet obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The shadow report has been kindly endorsed by the AIS Support Group Australia, Disabled People’s Organisations of Australia, National LGBTI Health Alliance, and People with Disability Australia. As a member of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, IHRA also participated in the development and submission of a joint shadow report by that taskforce.

Intersex Awareness Day, 2018

Aboriginal, Intersex and Australian flags flying in Altona, Intersex Awareness Day 2018

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of a demonstration by ‘Hermaphrodites with Attitude’ and allies outside a paediatrics conference, from which intersex advocates had been excluded. Today, our voices can no longer be dismissed. We mark many things.   To mark Intersex Awareness Day, five intersex advocates representing three organisations returned to the Commonwealth Parliament on…
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Inaugural Darlington Intersex Ally Award

The Darling award 2018

Tomorrow, on Intersex Awareness Day, a consortium of intersex-led and allied organisations working towards implementation of the Darlington Statement in Australia will proudly announce the recipient of the first annual Darlington intersex ally award, the Darling. The Darling will be presented to an organisation, institution or individual that demonstrates a commitment to action on intersex human rights beyond affirming the Darlington Statement.

Submission to the Law Reform Commission of WA

Coat of arms of the State of Western Australia

Debate about legal gender recognition in Western Australia has thankfully shifted the debate in Australia from one focused on the recognition of non-binary gender categories to one that questions the necessity of legal registration of sex and gender at all.

Initial response to the leak of the religious freedoms inquiry report

Religions have a long history of including intersex people (people born with sex characteristics that don’t fit medical or social norms for female or male bodies) in marriage, ordination, and other aspects of religious and daily life. Those forms of inclusion follow particular rules, and they don’t allow for self-determination, but they are not discriminatory,…
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New papers by Morgan Carpenter on health and human rights

New papers by Morgan Carpenter on health and human rights

We are pleased to share current and recent peer-reviewed journal articles by co-executive director Morgan Carpenter, on intersex health and human rights, and an associated book chapter. The ‘normalization’ of intersex bodies and ‘othering’ of intersex identities In an open access peer-reviewed journal article and a book chapter, Morgan describes contradictions where medicine construct intersex…
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AHRC launches major consultation project: Protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions

AHRC launches major consultation project: Protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a major project to consult on protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions. The project is being assisted by an expert reference group that includes directors of IHRA, AISSGA and representatives of other intersex/parent-led organisations, disability and…
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Submission: Draft revised guidelines Sexual boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship

Medical Board of Australia logo

Morgan Carpenter, for IHRA (then OIIAU), and Bonnie Hart, for the AISSGA, made a joint letter of submission in March to the Medical Board of Australia on proposed “Draft revised guidelines Sexual boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship”. Intersex variations (often contentiously termed “disorders of sex development” in clinical settings) relate to personal sex characteristics, and…
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