Physical integrity and bodily autonomy Intersex Human Rights Australia campaigns in favour of personal autonomy in
medical interventions affecting intersex people, including an end to cosmetic or "normalising" surgeries on intersex infants. In late 2012, the Senate's Community Affairs References Committee established an inquiry into the involuntary or coerced sterilisation of people with disabilities. In February 2013, intersex was added as an additional term of reference. The Committee published a joint, cross-party report on 25 October 2013, making 15 recommendations. The conclusions of the inquiry supported much of the case and recommendations made by InterAction: In May 2019, InterAction published a multilingual joint statement signed by more than 50 intersex-led organizations condemning the introduction of "disorders of sex development" language into the
International Classification of Diseases, stating that this causes "harm" and facilitates human rights violations, calling on the
World Health Organization to publish clear policy to ensure that
intersex medical interventions are "fully compatible with human rights norms". The institution also engages directly with clinicians and biologists. While opposing use of terminology that it describes as pathologising, such as "
Disorders of Sex Development", Carpenter is nevertheless named as a reviewer for a "DSD Genetics" website funded by the
National Health and Medical Research Council Australia. In a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture in 2016, the organisation submitted that Australian governments recognise the dignity and rights of
LGBTI people, but at the same time, "harmful practices" on intersex children continue. In March 2017, representatives of InterAction's founding organizations participated in an Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand consensus "Darlington Statement" by intersex community organisations and others. InterAction played a key role in the passage of legislation to protect the bodily autonomy of children with intersex variations in the Australian Capital Territory.
Psychosocial and peer support InterAction delivers psychosocial and peer support services through the InterLink and
Intersex Peer Support Australia programs.
Access to healthcare In July 2013, the Commonwealth announced that it was removing sex or gender terms from item codes for
Medicare procedures, following input from InterAction. InterAction noted that the changes do not ensure full access to the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Protection from discrimination In late 2012, the
Australian Government's proposed
Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill included intersex as a "gender identity". This was criticised by InterAction on the basis that intersex people needed protection, but biological differences should not come within the definition. Writing in the
Equal Rights Trust journal Equal Rights Review, Gina Wilson wrote, "Legislators initially did not have a clear understanding of what intersex was, but having given evidence to Senate Committees and spoken with legislators individually we are hopeful that intersex will be a protected attribute under the Bill." On 25 June 2013, the
Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act passed with cross-party support, and became law on 1 August 2013. This was the first time "intersex status" had been a protected attribute under Australian discrimination legislation.
Identification documents The organisation has stated that "while
sex or gender markers are still required", it supports binary, non-binary and multiple
gender classifications for adults, but only binary classifications for infants and children, fearing stigmatisation and the potential impact on sex assignment processes for infants. The organisation cautiously acknowledged an Australian Capital Territory Bill to modify the Territory's birth registrations process to create a third sex category for infants and children, stating, "neither of the two national intersex organisations had been engaged in talks before the bill was presented in the Assembly." In 2017, the organisation reported that no children had been assigned to such a category, viewing this as a vindication of the argument that such classifications exacerbate parental fears. In March 2017, an Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand community statement called for an end to legal classification of sex, stating that legal third classifications, like binary classifications, were based on
structural violence and failed to respect diversity and a "right to self-determination". and where marriage prospects are stated as a rationale for early medical interventions, In 2017 the
Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 specifically refers to '2 people' rather than 'same-sex' with respect to the definition of marriage.
International work InterAction for Health and Human Rights and its founding organizations are represented at numerous international events, including the "first
United Nations Human Rights Council side event on intersex issues" in March 2014, alongside
Mauro Cabral and representatives of
Intersex UK and
Zwischengeschlecht.
Intersex flag The
Intersex flag was created in July 2013 by
Morgan Carpenter of InterAction for Health and Human Rights (then known as Organisation Intersex International Australia) to be a flag "that is not derivative, but is yet firmly grounded in meaning". The circle is described as "unbroken and unornamented, symbolising wholeness and completeness, and our potentialities. We are still fighting for bodily autonomy and genital integrity, and this symbolises the right to be who and how we want to be." == Awards and recognition ==