Intersex Human Rights Fund

Location: International

Focus: Grant-making to strengthen the global intersex movement

Website: https://www.astraeafoundation.org/apply/intersex-human-rights-fund/

IHRF are dedicated to resourcing the intersex movement globally and championing the human rights of intersex people. They give flexible funding to enable intersex activists to address the root causes of the violations they face, and promote the agency and autonomy of intersex people.

Intersex people face systemic human rights violations in all regions of the world. Children are subjected to non-consensual and harmful “normalising” surgeries and other interventions, including forced hormone treatments, sterilisation and genital mutilation. Intersex people report lifelong psychological distress and physical health issues from interventions, while those not subjected to these procedures face violence, stigma and discrimination. Yet, intersex groups receive less than 2% of the global foundation funding allocated to LGBTQI people and women and girls. IHRF are bridging that gap. 

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, IHRF provided an additional USD$2,000 – 8,000 to each of their existing intersex grantee partners. The pandemic and associated restrictions on movement have heightened the exclusion and discrimination many intersex people already face, with many left isolated, jobless and unable to access the medical and mental health services they need. In 2020, IHRF funded over 50 intersex organisations and projects around the world, a 65% increase on their 2019 grants.

In 2021, GiveOut’s grant will support IHRF’s grant-making efforts to support the intersex movement in the Global South and East.

GiveOut is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1176434).