The Problems
Around the world, intersex people experience a range of human rights violations because their bodies do not fit within conventionally defined categories of “male” and “female.” Many intersex people are forced to undergo genital surgeries and hormonal treatments to conform to societally-imposed ideas of “normal” human development. These medical interventions often cause life-long harm. Intersex people also encounter a range of economic and social inequities—as well as violence—as a result of deeply entrenched stereotypes about the way their bodies “should” or “shouldn’t” look.
Our Solutions
AJWS supports intersex rights groups in six countries in Africa and Asia that are working to help intersex people live with physical integrity, access competent healthcare and end stigma and discrimination.
*Intersex people are born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and/or chromosome patterns) that vary from typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations.
