Intersex Children
Children born with variations in their sex characteristics – sometimes called intersex variations – are often subjected to “normalizing” surgeries that are irreversible, risky, and medically unnecessary. Approximately 1.7 percent of people have an intersex trait, meaning intersex variations are not uncommon, just often misunderstood. Human Rights Watch works to document and advocate against all surgical procedures that seek to alter the gonads, genitals, or internal sex organs of children with atypical sex characteristics too young to participate in the decision, when those procedures both carry a meaningful risk of harm and can be safely deferred.
Videos
Videos-
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July 25, 2017
“I Want to Be Like Nature Made Me”
Medically Unnecessary Surgeries on Intersex Children in the US
News
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October 18, 2021
Australia Moves Closer to Ending Harmful Intersex Surgeries
Rights Body Urges End to Early ‘Normalizing’ Interventions on Children
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September 1, 2021
Protest Demands End to Harmful Surgeries on Intersex Children
Hospital Should Halt Medically Unnecessary Surgeries
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November 24, 2020
Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s review of the United Kingdom
88th pre-session
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October 29, 2020
US Hospital to Stop Harmful Intersex Surgeries on Children
Hospital is First Institution to Make This Change and Apologize for Harm Done
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March 13, 2020
Human Rights Watch Letter Re: House Bill 303 and Health Care for Transgender and Intersex Children
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February 3, 2020
Human Rights Watch Letter Re: South Dakota HB 1057 and the Rights of Transgender and Intersex Children
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December 13, 2019
Massachusetts Medical Society Supports Intersex Rights
Elective Surgeries Should Be Patient’s Choice
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August 29, 2019
Indian State Bans Unnecessary Surgery on Intersex Children
New Government Committee Should Include Intersex Perspectives
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October 25, 2018
Push is on in Australia to End Intersex Abuses
Rights Commission Consultation Exposes Harmful, Unnecessary Medical Practices
