WE at OII Australia continue to be impressed at the consistency with which the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) includes intersex in its work, publications and public statements, since we were asked to comment upon the issue of intersex inclusion several months ago.

We encourage other agencies to follow the UNHCR’s example.

This latest publication by the UNHCR – Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex Persons in Forced Displacement – continues that agency’s new tradition of default intersex inclusion.

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Intersex individuals may endure persecution because they do not conform to gender expectations, or are viewed as having a physical disability related to their atypical sexual anatomy. Family members of intersex persons are sometimes also abused. Intersex individuals may be subject to unwanted surgery to “correct” their anatomy or have ongoing medical needs related to their condition.