Author: Morgan Carpenter

Senator Louise Pratt

Thank you, Senators Louise Pratt and Sue Boyce

Today is the last day of office for two Senators who have played a key role in the pursuit of human rights and better health outcomes for intersex people in Australia, and we thank them both for their commitment and work.

Image of the chamber where the council meets

Intersex advocacy at the UN 26th Human Rights Council

Internationally, work on intersex issues is partially supported by the inclusion of “sexual orientation and gender identity” (SOGI) in a small number of UN resolutions, joint statements, and reports of Special Rapporteurs. UN resolutions establish frameworks for national legislation find their way into national law, as was the case In the last year with the…
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detail of cover image

New resources for allies, parents and service providers!

OII Australia and ACON announce three new resources to explain intersex to the LGBT* and broader communities, service providers and parents. The resources have been produced by OII Australia, a national intersex-led Public Benevolent Institution that promotes human rights and health issues, and ACON, a leading LGBTI* health promotion organisation in NSW. OII and ACON…
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The 25th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2014 witnessed a historic first: the first ever side event exclusively focused on intersex issues, titled Intersex People and Human Rights: Violations, Voices and Visions.

Intersex side event at the UN Human Rights Council

The 25th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2014 witnessed a historic first: the first ever side event exclusively focused on intersex issues, titled Intersex People and Human Rights: Violations, Voices and Visions. OII Australia was proud to participate, alongside other NGOs.

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Women athletes forced to undergo clitorectomies to compete

The British Medical Journal has today published an article on the current policies of the IOC, IAAF and FIFA, reporting that several women have recently been coerced into “partial clitoridectomies” and gonadectomies (removal of gonads) in order to compete. Partial clitoridectomies/clitorectomies are understood to be a form of Female Genital Mutilation. The authors note that…
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Parliament: an icon showing an outline of the Australian Parliament

Cross-party speeches on intersex health in the Australian Senate

In the Commonwealth Parliament tonight, senators from each of the three main parties gave extraordinary and powerful speeches. We heard clear recognition that the medical treatment of intersex people is a human rights issue, that intersex is not a disorder, and that intersex people must be heard.

the shape of ACT, in purple

Birth registrations in ACT

We acknowledge the constructive intent of the ACT government in reforming Births, Deaths and Marriages legislation today. We warmly welcome the increase in time limit for registration of a birth, and the likely absence of any necessity for clinical treatment for intersex people who may wish to change classification. We welcome the naming of a…
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Holly Greenberry speaking to the Human Rights Council

Human rights: first intersex-led discussions at the UN Human Rights Council

On Monday 10 March at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Holly Greenberry spoke on intersex issues on behalf of a group of intersex organisations. Holly also thanked the Special Rapporteur on torture, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders on our behalf. Statement to the Human Rights Council Watch Holly…
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Participants with banners, by Robert Knapman

Intersex inclusion in the 2014 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade

Statement by presidents of both Australian intersex-led organisations: Ms Bonnie Hart, president of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia (AISSGA) and Mr Morgan Carpenter, president of Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII Australia) at the Mardi Gras Parade press briefing on 28 February.