Biomedical Ethics
World Health Organization: Sexual Health, Human Rights and the Law
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report titled, Sexual Health, Human Rights and the Law, which examines medically unnecessary medical surgeries on intersex children, a.k.a. Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM). The report calls for a deferment of IGM until intersex persons areole enough to make decisions, if any, for themselves. It also calls for…
Read MoreNew study confirms OII’s message: we are “Intersex”, not “DSDs”!
A recent study published in the International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology (March 16, 2015), titled, “Congenital adrenal hyperplasia patient perception of ‘disorders of sex development’ nomenclature”, found that: “71.0% disliked or strongly disliked the term DSD. 83.6% stated they did not identify with the term DSD. 76.0% felt that the term DSD has a negative…
Read MoreViloria on discrimination against intersex women athletes in The Advocate
We’re thrilled to to have this essay by our E.D. Hida Viloria run in The Advocate, although we note they changed the original title – “Bullying By Any Other Name: What’s Really Behind Regulations for Women with High Testosterone” – to, “Stop Freaking Out About Female Intersex Athletes”. The essay elaborates on the issue…
Read MoreAljazeera interviews Viloria on sports policies for intersex female athletes
Our E.D. Hida Viloria is on Aljazeera’s The Stream today, speaking with scholars Payoshni Mitra, PhD, and Katrina Karkazis, PhD, author of Fixing Sex, about how sporting regulations for intersex women, specifically those with hyperandrogegism (high natural testosterone levels), are discriminatory, as witnessed in the recent case of India’s Dutee Chand. Viloria has lobbied extensively against…
Read MoreCalling all intersex folks who underwent surgeries!
If you are an intersex person who underwent non-consensual, medically unnecessary surgery(ies) — a.ka. intersex genital mutilation/IGM — please take the time to complete this survey if you can. We desperately need statistics about the “treatments” we are subjected to. Thanks in advance! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/intersexed_life_survey
Read MoreAnother great article questions “fixing” intersex children
We are thrilled to see more and more public attention and scrutiny of the human rights violation that intersex children are routinely subjected to, in the form of having their genitals cut without their request or consent, which we call Intersex Genital Mutialtion/IGM. Read here: Growing Pushback Against Surgically “Fixing” Intersex Children
Read MoreThe Atlantic questions “fixing’ intersex children
This piece examines the practice of surgically attempting to “fix” intersex babies and minors — a.k.a. intersex genital mutiltion/IGM – and the current legal case of the rawford family, who is suing the doctors who operated on their intersex son before they adopted him, and the state of South Carolina (his legal guardians at the…
Read MoreCouncil of Europe’s statement on intersex people’s need for equal rights!
In recognition of the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17th, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights has released the statement, A boy or a girl or a person — intersex people lack recognition in Europe. The statement examines the intense difficulties and human rights abuses — such as “normalizing”…
Read MorePublic Statement by the Third International Intersex Forum: The Malta Declaration
Between November 29th and December 1st 2013, the Third International Intersex Forum, supported by ILGA and ILGA-Europe, took place in Valletta, Malta. This event brought together 34 activists representing 30 intersex organisations from all continents. The Forum was organized by ILGA Europe’s Silvan Agius and Ruth Baldacchino, and three intersex activists selected from an open…
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