LAWS banning irreversible medical procedures for intersex people have been passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Intersex people are born with sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads or genitals that do not fit typical notions of male and female bodies.

For people who have variations in sex characteristics, the Variations in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023 will uphold their ability to make their own decisions about non-essential medical treatments that affect their bodies, once they have capacity to do so.

This legislation represents the first time an Australian government has acted to meet requirements of multiple human rights bodies in relation to intersex human rights.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith says the legislation creates a safeguard to ensure where treatments can safely be deferred, they are.

“Deferrable and unnecessary medical interventions performed on children with variations in sex characteristics can result in poor health outcomes that effect the person for the rest of their life. This can include pain, trauma and a need for ongoing medical treatment that would not have otherwise been required,” she says.