Legal (page 2 of 5)

Articles about legal cases and judgements, and policing matters. Read our briefing papers on bodily integrity, discrimination, identification documents and detention

the shape of Tasmania, in purple

We welcome the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute inquiry report

IHRA welcomes the report of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute on “legal recognition of sex and gender”. In particular, we warmly welcome recommendations in relation to medical procedures on children with intersex variations.

the shape of new south wales, in purple

Statement on intersex and abortion law reform

This statement follows press reports in the Daily Telegraph, suggesting that NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope will introduce a proposed amendment to a bill decriminalising abortion in the NSW Legislative Council to prohibit terminations on grounds of sex or intersex traits. IHRA has a longstanding position on the use of IVF technologies and terminations. We…
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Morgan Carpenter: head shot

Kirby Institute lecture by Morgan Carpenter

A recording of a 2019 lecture by co-executive director Morgan Carpenter at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, on “medical and legal contradictions on the meaning and needs of intersex people”.

the shape of Tasmania, in purple

Tasmania: unfinished business

IHRA welcomes aspects of the Justice and Related Legislation (Marriage Amendments) Bill 2018, that has been passed by the Tasmanian Parliament. In particular, insertion of the attribute of “sex characteristics” in law is very welcome. However, we note that anti-discrimination protections on grounds of sex characteristics only apply to persons with intersex variations of sex…
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Law: an icon showing an outline of scales in balance

Detention

A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in detention settings.

an equals sign inside a circle

Discrimination

A briefing on discrimination issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics due to our bodies, identities, or assumptions about our identities.

Australian Law Reform Commission submission

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.

The symbol of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in purple

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.

IHRA logotype

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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Orchid

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.

Journal of Bioethical Inquiry logo

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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