Supporting and upholding the rights and health of incarcerated persons with innate variations of sex characteristics

Supporting and upholding the rights and health of incarcerated persons with innate variations of sex characteristics

This session addresses the systemic invisibility and mistreatment of incarcerated individuals with innate variations of sex characteristics (IVSC), also known as intersex variations/traits. While carceral settings are widely recognised as hostile to LGBTQI individuals, those with IVSC face compounded epistemic injustice, resulting in heightened risks of trauma, self-harm, and human rights violations.

Drawing on the Darlington Statement and IVSC-led advocacy, the session identifies key challenges in upholding the rights and health of IVSC individuals in prison. It proposes a “whole-incarceration-setting approach” to reform, aimed at fostering informed, inclusive, and affirming environments. This includes policy and practice recommendations, and consideration of alternative accountability mechanisms beyond the criminal-legal system. The presentation calls for radical reform aligned with human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, driven by the lived experiences and leadership of people with IVSC.

Bio

Associate Professor Annette Brömdal is based at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia and leads the Sexuality and Gender Research Program Team, focusing on health promotion, bodies, gender, and sexuality through co-designed research with LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities. They serve on editorial boards for Scientific Reports and the International Journal of Transgender Health, and edit the Routledge series on gender and the criminal legal system.  

Crip & Queer Seminar Series autumn 2025: 

Violence, representation and radical change

The Crip & Queer Seminar series is hosted by the Division of Gender Studies. During the fall term of 2025, the theme of the series is Violence, representation and radical change. After the seminars, which are open to students, staff, and the general public, we serve fika in the kitchen on the fourth floor of Gamla Lungkliniken.

Warmly welcome!  

Contact:  

• Elin Lundell elin [dot] lundell [at] genus [dot] lu [dot] se  
• Irina Schmitt irina [dot] schmitt [at] genus [dot] lu [dot] se (irina[dot]schmitt[at]genus[dot]lu[dot]se)
• Tove Lundberg tove [dot] lundberg [at] psy [dot] lu [dot] se