Nonconsensual Harmful Medical Practices on Intersex Children

Intersex is a broad umbrella term describing nearly two percent of the population with innate physical variations of sex characteristics, such as genitals, reproductive organs, chromosomes, and/or hormones, that don’t align with typical notions of either a female or a male body. Intersex traits may be discovered in utero, at birth, or later in childhood/adolescence. 

Intersex people globally are subjected to various forms of discrimination and suffer human rights violations in all aspects of society, including in medical settings. 

Under international human rights law, governments must eradicate harmful medical practices such as non-consensual genital and other surgeries on intersex children (sometimes referred to as “intersex genital mutilation” or “IGM”).

Laws prohibiting harmful medical practices on intersex children should be intersex-informed and conform to international principles of human rights law.