Statement on the Religious Discrimination Bills package
Our statement on the Religious Discrimination Bills package and reform to anti-discrimination law.
Media releases (page 3 of 8)
AHRC: Ensure health and bodily integrity for people with intersex variations
Intersex Human Rights Australia and Equality Australia have today welcomed the findings of a landmark report by the Australian Human Rights Commission on protecting the human rights of intersex people in medical settings.
51+ States call to protect the human rights of intersex people at the United Nations
A growing number of States has called on the UN Human Rights Council to urgently protect intersex persons in their autonomy and right to health. These 51* States from all regions of the world also highlighted the “need for concrete measures to combat harmful practices, violence and discrimination”
Wear It Purple Day statement, 2021
Wear It Purple Day celebrates the diversity of Australian students and their right to dignity and respect at school. We celebrate its values of inclusion, and grass roots efforts to support community education and non-profits. We thought we’d take the opportunity to start a conversation on some of the challenges students with intersex variations may face at school.
Welcoming Cody Smith
IHRA is delighted to share the appointment of Cody Smith as Senior Projects Officer, commencing on 1 August 2021. Cody brings a wealth of experience in training, communications and education, and they have been directly involved in community development work for many years in addition to support for parents, families and individuals.
Towards a model bill to eliminate harmful practices affecting sex characteristics in medical settings
In February this year, Intersex Human Rights Australia commenced work to develop a model bill to provide protections from forced or coercive medical interventions to modify sex characteristics.
The Victorian government commits to protect the human rights of intersex people in medical settings
Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) and Equality Australia welcome the Victorian Government’s vision for Victorians with intersex variations, (i) Am Equal. These reforms aim to respect the rights of intersex people to make decisions about our own bodies.
Staffing and board changes
We thank Tony Briffa for her work as she steps down from a staff role, and we welcome new board members Dr Anita Jacombs, Olympia Balopitos and Paul Byrne-Moroney.
ABS Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Standard
We welcome publication of a new Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Standard by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This replaces an earlier Sex and Gender Standard. The new Standard facilitates the meaningful and respectful collection of data on people with intersex variations (‘variations of sex characteristics’).
We welcome the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute inquiry report
IHRA welcomes the report of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute on “legal recognition of sex and gender”. In particular, we warmly welcome recommendations in relation to medical procedures on children with intersex variations.
Senate motion for Intersex Day of Solidarity
Yesterday, the government and far right defeated a motion acknowledging 8 November as Intersex Day of Solidarity. We are saddened by aspects of the government response to the motion, and reject the response by One Nation. We thank the parties and individuals who kindly proposed and supported the motion.
Joint statement on the 2021 Census
Intersex Human Rights Australia and the National LGBTI Health Alliance issue this statement following news reports on the 2021 Census.