Health/Medical
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 MoreHow Common is Intersex? An Explanation of the Stats.
The most thorough existing research finds intersex people to constitute an estimated 1.7% of the population*, which makes being intersex about as common as having red hair (1%-2%). However, popularly misinterpretted, much referenced statistics would have you believe are numbers are much lower. Here’s why. Some groups use an old prevalence statistic that says we…
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 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 MoreHida Viloria at Genital Autonomy 2014 Symposium
We’re very pleased to announce that Hida Viloria will be presenting on “normalizing” cosmetic genital surgeries of intersex infants and minors, and the importance of accurately framing these procedures as human rights violations, rather than “medical treatment”, at The 13th International Symposium on Genital Autonomy and Children’s Rights, “Whole Bodies, Whole Selves: Activating Social Change”,…
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 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…
Read MoreOII Australia’s Morgan Carpenter published in ABC’s The Drum regarding groundbreaking Australian Senate’s statement on medical treatment of intersex children
OII Australia President Morgan Carpenter’s essay, “It’s Time to Defend Intersex Rights”, explores why “normalizing” surgeries on intersex babies and children must end, and the recent Australian Senate report “Involuntary or coerced sterilization of intersex people in Australia”. Note, this groundbreaking report is based directly on submissions by OII Australia. To read more about the…
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