Legal & Ethical Considerations for Intersex Children

This assignment delves into the complex legal, ethical, and human rights dilemmas associated with surgical interventions performed on intersex infants and children. It analyzes various viewpoints, including medical justifications, child autonomy, and cultural influences, while critically evaluating the potential consequences of such procedures. The emphasis is on understanding the multifaceted nature of this issue and fostering informed discussions about best practices that prioritize the well-being and rights of intersex individuals.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATION
Organisation Intersex International
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note

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Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
Organisation Intersex International in Australia:...................................................................2
Dilemmas:...............................................................................................................................3
Intersex in South Africa:........................................................................................................5
Dilemmas:...............................................................................................................................5
Comparison and contrast between two NGOs:......................................................................5
Effectiveness of these NGOs:.................................................................................................7
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................8
Reference:..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction:
This report is based on the importance of Non-government Organisations and their
role on the various subjects and to promote the idea of human rights. It has been observed that
the NGOs are certain kinds of non-profit organisations and active in the fields like education,
healthcare, public policy, environment and other related issues (Coe and Majot 2013). The
citizen found these organisations and in recent times, the importance of these organisations is
becoming more effective. Considering their importance, 27th February is celebrating as World
NGO Day. In this report, the role of the Organisation Intersex International has been discussed.
This supportive measure has been taken for the interest of the intersex people (Carpenter 2016).
Curtis Hinkle was the founder of this organisation and work of the organisation has begun in
the year 2003. The main objective of this organisation is to maintain equality among the
intersex personalities and in the words of sociologists Georgiann Davis, Organisation Intersex
International is the activist organisation in that field. According to this organisation, many
people have certain sexual disorders and it is the duty of the humankind to treat them equally. It
has branches in different provinces such as Australia, Europe, USA and South Africa (Jones
and Hillier 2013).
Discussion
Organisation Intersex International in Australia:
The organisation has been established in Australia in the year 2009 and become a
Public generous Organisation in the year 2010. Gina Wilson was the founding president of the
organisation. The role of the organisation in the society of Australia is imperative in nature. It
has been observed that the medical intervention of the organisation regarding the intersex-
affected people has certain positive impacts and the organisation has been actively involved in

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the cosmetic surgeries to the affected personalities (Preves 2016). It has been stated by Gina
Wilson that the organisation is capable to bring effective changes in the mentality of the society
regarding the intersex persons. They have advertised certain news on equality regarding the
sexual disorder persons and it has been noticed that the organisation, to certain extent, receives
huge success in that particular field (Spencer, Meer and Müller 2017).
In 2012, an inquiry committee has been established to look over the matters of the
organisation and it has been alleged that the organisation is suffering from certain illicit
sterilisation. It has been replied by the organisation that the projected impacts of the surgeries
are more than the normal reconstruction. The sexual disorder has been termed as gender
dysphoria by the organisation and it has been observed that the organisation is attempting to
contact with the medicinal persons as well as the doctors to play their role effectively in such
processes (Swartz and Erasmus 2016).
Dilemmas:
It has been observed that the organisation has to face a number of dilemmas while
performing their job. The main objective of the organisation is to retain the gender equality and
operate the affected persons to give them normal life like others. The organisation has
submitted its report on its activities and it has been observed that the number of operations and
medicinal sterilisation have been used invariably by the organisation (McDonald 2015). Due to
the high use of the steroid, persons are becoming affected by this and the organisation has to
face dilemmas in the sectors like Social, Political, Ethical and Legal arena.
M. Doughlas has extended the arena and importance of the Non-governmental
organisations. However, the activities of the organisation in Australia are suffering from certain
disabilities (Douglas, Levitan and Kiama 2017). It has been agreed by the Australians that the
genital mutilation is a wise step regarding the bodily integrity and protecting the children from

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violence is a great job, but the organisation is taking step on behalf of the girls only. Many
citizens have regarded this as unethical. In their view, steps should be taken for the interest of
every child and there shall not be any discrimination regarding the point. It has been also
observed that the organisation has attempted to operate children and there was no urgency
regarding the same (Fraser 2016). Legal issues take place when it has been notified by the
inquiry report that the organisation is involved in the surgery of underage children. Non-
consensual intersex genital modification is illegal in the provinces of Australia. However, there
are allegations that the organisation is involved in such activities and for that, the organisations
are facing dilemmas.
Greenberg has stated that the organisation is facing certain legal and social issues and
it has been rightly alleged that the process of the organisation is harmful in nature (Meyer-
Bahlburg 2015). It has been observed that the organisation is involving in the genital
normalising process. The children who are affected by the sexual disorder needs to be
operated to this effect. The organisation does the same job. However, the main side effect of
the same is that the operated children sometimes have to face physical abnormality and they
have to undergo into a lifelong hormone sterilisation. It has been stated by the Australian
Government that it is the right of the children to decide whether they want to be interchanged
or stay same. The organisation has no right over the issue.
Georgie Yovanovic in the year 1970 who was also affect ted by the forced medical
treatments and surgery had bought allegations. Shon Klose, a musician was also pressurised
to undergo into a genital surgery without any medical counselling. Form the side of politics
too; the organisation has been suffered from certain dilemmas (Nokoff et al. 2017). It has
been stated that the children should be treated equally irrespective of their weak points or
disorder. It is not wise step to change the problems by way of operating them. It has been
mentioned by many human right activists and political ministers that interchange the sexual

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organs without obtaining their consent is a violation regarding the fundamental rights of the
children and therefore, strong allegations have been made against the structure of the
organisation.
Intersex in South Africa:
In the continents of South Africa, the sexual disorders are found in a more ratio. The
term intersex can be applied to them who have certain sexual disorders and certain typical
binary notions that can be effectively operated to make them normal (Muller 2014). It has
been observed that the institution is engaging into a self-operated organisation. In South
Africa, the human rights activists, Sally Gross, have established the institution on the intersex
criteria. She was acting as a mentor in the arena of intersex activities and established an NGO
that was affiliated with the Organisation Intersex International. It has been observed that the
problem regarding the intersex is a burning topic in the territory of South Africa and
therefore, certain measures have been taken for protecting the interest of the affected persons
(Coe and Majot 2013).
Dilemmas:
In the states of South Africa too, the intersex organisation has to face certain
dilemmas and to certain extent, the organisation is violating the rules of the fundamental
rights. It has been observed that the organisation is not getting the consent of the children
while interchanging their genital organs and the age of the child was also not legal (Carpenter
2016). It has been observed that the clitoral surgeries are become a serious concern and the
organisation is alleged to operate those surgeries by the help of over sterilisation.
Comparison and contrast between two NGOs:
It has been noticed in the early descriptions that both the organisations have certain
significant role over the intersex problems and getting success to certain extent. The term

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intersex is applied to the person who is suffering from the sexual disorders and has certain
genital problem that differs them from others. In many states, it has been observed that the
intersex persons have to face discrimination and that make them mentally ill. Certain non-
government organisations are established to define the problem and curb the ill effect of the
same (Jones and Hillier 2013). Organisation Intersex international is one of the NGO that is
working for the interest of the intersex personalities. It has been observed that the
organisation has done many activities and implemented certain medical policies and applied
the same to the affected persons. The organisation was for the first time established in United
Kingdom in the year 2003 and in 2009; it has its branch in Australia. The organisation has its
branch in the states like South Africa, United States and Europe. In this report, the
comparison regarding the activities of the two branches of the organisation has been
mentioned. The comparisons are depend on the social structure of each states and the political
and legal criteria of each of the states (McDonald 2015).
It is no doubt to state that there are differences between the governmental and social
structure of the two states. The activities and the nature of the two branches are also different.
In the state of Australia, governmental approach on the genital transformation has been ob
served. It has also been stated that the policies taken by the social activists and the human
rights volunteers against the arbitrary policies of the organisation by stating that the
institution is not obtaining consent from the children regarding the surgery (HUPF 2015).
There are certain other allegations medical dilemmas and it has been observed that the
patients have to undergo into the process of sterilisation that might affect their social life.
It has been observed that the organisation has taken certain policies in Australia by
way of operating the discrepancies regarding the physical bodies and the steroid they are
injecting has certain side effects. The Australian government has implemented certain

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policies regarding the intersex personalities and the term has not been included under the
legal enactments (Douglas, Levitan and Kiama 2017).
On the other hand, in the provinces of South Africa, the works of the organisation
regarding the intersex has been applauded and the government of South Africa is also extend
their helping hand towards them so that the social disease like intersex can be curbed (Muller
2014). It has been observed that term intersex has been included in the anti-discrimination
law for the protection of equality and justice. Certain documentation has been published to
make aware the people regarding the intersex challenge such as Intersexion.
Effectiveness of these NGOs:
The importance of this organisation in the intersex policies cannot be denied. This
organisation has adopted certain policies to abolish the gender discrimination process form
the society. It is obvious to state that the main object of the organisation is moral (Crerand,
Sarwer and Ryan 2017). The others due to their sexual disorder are affecting many persons
and it has been observed that the persons have to face serious conclusion and sometimes, they
developed psychological problems. The policies taken by the organisation, to certain extent
succeed to remove certain disabilities and awarded with certain prestigious respects. In
Australia, the organisation had won United Nations Human Rights Award.
It has been observed that the organisation has committed certain surgical operation
and many get relief from the curse of having sexual disorders. The main affected person of
such disorders is being known as LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) community.
The institution has tried to make equality among these classes. In the developing countries,
the impact of the organisation is effective (Meyer-Bahlburg 2015). The organisation wants to
become the voice for the intersex people. It helps to promote the concept over the bodily

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autonomy. This is a fact that the efforts of Sally Gross help the South African government to
include the term in the legal enactment to curb the dispute of inequality.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it has been understood from the above-mentioned points that the
Organisation intersex International is playing certain important roles to establish the concept
of intersex equality. In the words of Stephanie Farrior, the mentality to the inequality has
caused certain dilemma over the humankind (Farrior 2017). The contribution of Organisation
Intersex International should be regarded in this case. It has implemented certain policies for
the betterment of this community. It has been notified that this organisation has faced a
number of criticisms regarding the arbitrary nature of working and over sterilisation. In
certain states, the process of gender transformation has been regarded as illegal and the
human rights activists are protesting against it. However, the importance of this organisation
could not be denied. It is required to mention that the policy implementations are depended
on the social structure of the states and therefore, difference has been observed in the territory
of Australia and South Africa.

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Reference:
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rhetoric of change. Reproductive health matters, 24(47), pp.74-84.
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from Comparative Policy Advocacy MEL Review Project. Oxfam America, 2, pp.4-5.
Crerand, C.E., Sarwer, D.B. and Ryan, M., 2017. Cosmetic Medical and Surgical Treatments
and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Advances in Research and
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