What is intersex? THE term intersex was adopted by science in the early 20th century and applied to human beings whose biological sex cannot be classified as clearly male or female. An intersex person may have the biological attributes of both sexes or lack some of the biological attributes considered necessary to be defined as…
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World Health Organization publishes report on sexual health, human rights and the law
The World Health Organization has published a major and long-awaited report on sexual health, human rights and the law. The report contains a specific section on intersex people, as well as other stigmatized social groups including lesbians and gay men, and transgender people. More information Read a full statement on this report by OII Australia…
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UN report condemns violence against LGBT and intersex people
Overnight, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued a new report, “Discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity”, A/HRC/29/23, which includes detailed reference to intersex and other LGBTI persons. OII Australia warmly welcomes this report, which for the first time calls for an…
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OII Europe: two milestones for intersex human rights in Europe
OII-Europe PRESS RELEASE Two milestones for intersex human rights in Europe on the same day. At the IDAHO Forum 2015 in Montenegro, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the Fundamental Rights Agency launched two documents that represent a true tipping point for the achievement of intersex human rights. The Issue…
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OII Francophonie: Forum International Intersexe de Douarnenez
Version PDF FORUM INTERSEXE EUROPÉEN Douarnenez 29 et 30 juin 2015 Le forum intersexe eropéen est organisé par le Festival de cinéma de Douarnenez Crédit photo : Vincent Guillot Présentation Il est capital que toutes les initiatives visant à modifier, corriger et mettre en place des politiques nationales de santé, scolaires, sociales à partir de…
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OII-USA’s Viloria to be published by Oxford U Press in college textbook
OII-USA/ICE Executive Director Hida Viloria’s May 2014 essay, “What’s in a Name: Intersex and Identity,” will be published by Oxford University Press this December in the college textbook, QUEER: A Reader for Writers, by Jason Schneiderman. The essay elaborates on the importance of “intersex” rhetoric and de-pathologization in attaining human rights for intersex people. Our gratitude…
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Statement by OII Europe: we applaud Malta’s new law
This is a landmark case for intersex rights within European law reform On the 1st of April 2015 a historic reform is taking place within the Maltese law code. With the Gender Identity, Gender Expression And Sex Characteristics Act, historic steps are being taken to bring forth an end to non-medically necessary, cosmetic genital surgeries…
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The real Michael Phelps girlfriend story
Claudia Astorino writes in The Guardian newspaper on the real Michael Phelps girlfriend story: To the media outlets interested in writing truthfully about intersex people: focus on who we are as human beings. Raise awareness that we exist, and that we’re fighting for our basic human rights: it’s been routine since the 50s to medically…
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