Estimated 1.7 percent of new-born babies are intersex: UN campaign

An estimated 1.7 percent of new-born babies across the world can be classified as intersex, which means their gender cannot simply be defined as male, or female. According to Charles Radcliffe, head of the UN Free & Equal Campaign, intersex children are often forced by their parents to undergo sex surgery in an attempt to “normalize” their bodies. This could leave “terrible scars”, he added, such as incontinence, loss of sexual sensation and mental illness. Andita Listyarini has been speaking to Mr Radcliffe as well as Hida Viloria, an intersex advocate and author of the book entitled “Born Both”, about their campaign to raise awareness of intersex people.

Indigenous “marginalized” in cities “for many decades”: Canadian activist

Indigenous people in Canada have been marginalized when it comes to city life “for many decades” with women and girls suffering a “disproportionate level of violence.” That’s according to Christine O’Fallon, a member of Canada’s Women Transforming Cities group, speaking at the UN’s recent Habitat III conference on the future of urbanization, in Ecuador. She said she was “disappointed” that the New Urban Agenda, adopted in Quito by Member States for the sustainable development of cities, did not go further on women’s issues. Ms O’Fallon spoke to Matthew Wells during the conference in the Ecuadorian capital.

Presenter: Dianne Penn

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″