: Examining the Efficacy of Legislative Prohibitions Designed to Improve Healthcare Experiences for Intersex People - An ESRC Funded Comparative Project

This presentation introduces our comparative project funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Funding which explores the interaction between legislation and healthcare reform in the context of intersex people. It sets out the scope and rationale of the project and its methodology; specifically, using doctrinal, empirical, and comparative methods to examine the 4 jurisdictions of Malta, Spain, Portugal and Germany. To assist our analysis and centre the voices of those most affected by legal reform, we will use qualitative interviews with intersex people, healthcare practitioners and policymakers in our comparator countries. Additionally we will interview stakeholders within the UK to ascertain what they want, need or envisage law’s involvement in this area to be. This project thus offers insight to any individuals/groups/politicians considering ways to introduce meaningful change for intersex people and protecting the bodily integrity of intersex children. It will co-analyse and co-produce research briefings with intersex groups directly aimed at policy-makers and organisations setting out best practice for designing and implementing law reform.