Bodily integrity
We all have a right to bodily integrity, to not be subjected to invasive or irreversible medical procedures that modify sex characteristics, unless necessary to avoid serious, urgent and irreparable harm.
Author: Morgan Carpenter
IHRA
Submission to the ALRC on reform of the family law system
IHRA has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission regarding its discussion paper on reform of the family law system, with a focus on reform of the welfare jurisdiction to ensure that children with intersex variations and persons with disabilities are protected from harmful practices.
Senate submission on legislative exemptions in faith-based schools
IHRA has made a submission to the Senate inquiry on legislative exemptions that allow faith-based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff.
Submissions to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
IHRA has made a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 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.
Intersex Awareness Day, 2018
On the 22nd anniversary of a demonstration by ‘Hermaphrodites with Attitude’ and allies outside a paediatrics conference, from which intersex advocates had been excluded, we mark the day with flag raising, parliamentary meetings, bridge lighting and a call to end forced medical interventions on intersex people.
Inaugural Darlington Intersex Ally Award
On Intersex Awareness Day, a consortium of intersex-led and allied organisations will proudly announce the recipient of the first annual Darlington intersex ally award, the Darling. It 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
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.
Appropriating ‘DSD’ as a way for trans people to access surgery
Over recent years we’ve commented on appropriation of intersex by multiple different groups of gender diverse people, including based on the harmful idea that being intersex ‘messes with the system‘, the harmful idea that being transgender is a form of ‘brain intersex‘, and the harmful idea that intersex is a non-binary gender. We know these…
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Submission to the AHRC on protecting rights in medical settings
We are pleased to share our submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission on protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions. It is kindly endorsed by the AIS Support Group Australia, Disabled People’s Organisations Australia, LGBTI Legal Service and People with Disability Australia.
Morgan Carpenter: new peer-reviewed papers on medical “normalisation” and legal “othering”
Update: The book chapter is now available freely via the author’s website We are pleased to share a current and recent peer-reviewed journal article by co-executive director Morgan Carpenter, on intersex health and human rights, and an associated book chapter. In an open access peer-reviewed journal article and a book chapter, Morgan describes contradictions where…
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AHRC launches major consultation: protecting rights 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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