Briefing papers

IHRA policy briefing papers. These briefings are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain current.

Welcome! About us…

Intersex people have innate sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies. We risk stigmatisation, discrimination and harm because our bodies are seen as different.

We are a national charity by and for people with innate variations of sex characteristics. We promote health, human rights and bodily autonomy.

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Intersex for allies

How can you act as an ally to intersex people? This page contains introductory information and video resources.

Bodily integrity: a figure of a body enclosed in a circle

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.

Rod of Asclepius

Clinical opposition to early intersex medical interventions

Clinicians are increasingly raising their voices in opposition to forced and coercive interventions, including Physicians for Human Rights and the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association. More action is needed – particularly in Australia.

Covid-19 - a representation of the physical appearance of the virus particle

Intersex people and COVID-19

All populations that suffer health inequalities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and people with intersex variations are no exception.

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Demographics

The intersex population is far more diverse than commonly understood. This page presents details based on a 2015 independent Australian sociological survey.

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Detention

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

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Discrimination

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

education: an outline in purple of a graduation cap

Education

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

Intersex in surveys and forms

Forms and data collection

Guidance on including people born with variations of sex characteristics in forms and other forms of data collection.

Double helix icon, representing DNA

Genomics and genetic selection

Many intersex traits are genetic, with an identified origin. The elimination of such traits from the gene pool is an established and growing phenomenon.

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Clinical guidelines

Are clinical guidelines enough to eliminate human rights violations against intersex people in medical settings? Reviewing the evidence, we believe they are inadequate, and their prerequisites do not exist.

Healthcare: a star of life symbol

Health and wellbeing

An introduction to the health and well-being of people with innate variations of sex characteristics, with links to third party resources published by the Australian Human Rights Commission and clinical bodies.

Identity certificate

Identification documents

A briefing and guidance on understanding and respecting the diverse sex classifications and gender identities of people with intersex variations.

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Intersex people and intersectionality

The rights and concerns of intersex people overlap and intersect with the rights and concerns of women, LGBT people, and disabled and racialised peoples.

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Media and style guide

If you are writing about intersex people, our bodies, identities and human rights concerns, this page outlines why we use words the way we do.

Intersex for parents.

Intersex for parents

This page is for new parents of an intersex child, prospective parents planning a pregnancy or undergoing genetic or preconception screening, and also parents of older children.

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Sport

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

Cropped version of the draft IHRA theory of change

Our draft theory of change

We present our draft Theory of Change for comment and feedback. The diagram is intended to set out why and how we do what we do, and with what goals and outcomes. Comments and feedback are welcome.

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Workplaces

Guidance for employers, union representatives and staff on intersex issues and inclusion in the workplace.