For an introduction to these issues, see our page on intersex for parents
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, but more action is needed – particularly in Australia.
The Family Court has recently published a decision on the sterilisation of a 5-year old child and, unfortunately, it reveals that: earlier genital surgery that “enhanced” her genitals without Court approval was viewed without concern, and with no evidence of necessity. The idea of “enhancing” the genitals of an infant or young child is disturbing….
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We are delighted to announce that the 2015 survey of people born with atypical sex characteristics has now been published. This survey was an independent research project led by Dr Tiffany Jones. The book has been peer reviewed and published by an academic publisher, Open Book Publishers. The strong team of co-authors includes a reference…
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A Queensland mother talks with Minna Burgess, a Queensland baby and maternity photographer, and journalist Sabrina Rogers-Anderson in two articles about the birth of her son. Minna Burgess shared a beautiful story on her blog following the birth of baby M to Jane and Stuart. Initially fearful, Jane talks about her fears and the difficulties…
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The Feed on SBS interviewed a parent, along with Bonnie Hart, Morgan Carpenter and Shubha Srinivasan, in this great feature presenting two personal stories.
Late last year, the Human Rights Commissioner announced a survey and consultation to explore key rights and services issues affecting LGBT and intersex people in Australia. Download OII Australia SOGII Submission 2015 OII Australia consulted our members, board and broader constituency, and we have made a submission today that covers the key intersex-specific issues for…
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We have recently received a copy of “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”, a schoolbook by Australian publisher The Spinney Press in their “Issues in Society” series. It also contains content on intersex people and intersex issues. That content includes an intersex for allies guide, and “It’s time to defend intersex rights“, an article on the…
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Following a meeting between Megan Mitchell, the National Children’s Commissioner, and Morgan Carpenter, yesterday, we have made a late submission to the National Children’s Commissioner inquiry on intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour in children. The Australian Human Rights Commission describes the inquiry as follows: The National Children’s Commissioner is examining how children and young people…
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Andrew Solomon A.M. Homes and Robert Hoges spoke recently at Sydney Writers’ Festival on growing up different from parents – something he terms “horizontal identity”, in contrast with (for example) ethnic heritage, and typically religion and nationality which are “vertical identities”, shared between family members. Radio National presented extracts of this talk on Monday 2…
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The World Health Organization, together with OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, have issued an interagency statement on Eliminating forced, coercive and otherwise involuntary sterilization. The statement covers intersex people, trans people, women, women with HIV, indigenous and ethnic minority women, and people with disabilities. This is an important development, that recognises the…
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OII Australia has just made a submission to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in relation to a review of Part B of the Ethical Guidelines on the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Clinical Practice and Research, 2007 (ART guidelines). Part B of the ART guidelines provides ethical guidelines for the clinical…
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A study published in the peer reviewed medical press this month describes the birth of an intersex child as a “challenging clinical emergency”, and finds that the incidence of post traumatic stress symptoms in parents is comparable to that amongst parents of children diagnosed with cancer. OII Australia believes that the framing of the birth…
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