Intersex people experience a range of human rights abuses, including non-consensual, irreversible medical interventions on minors. These abuses have lifelong effects, yet little is known about older intersex people. People in this diverse group face multiple marginalisations and erasures across different policy and practice arenas. This article reviews literature about intersex issues, drawing out materials relevant to older intersex people using an historically grounded approach. It focuses on the key issues affecting older intersex people living in a range of countries in the global North, as harmful medical practices originated in this region. Based on existing evidence, we found a pressing need for medical reform including a cessation of harmful medical practices and the development of appropriate healthcare that centres the needs and wishes of each intersex person. As intersex issues are currently heavily erased in most countries, research, cross-sectoral policy and practice work, and awareness-raising are all needed.

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This chapter is based on findings from a study funded by HIV Ireland, in collaboration with the Sex Workers’ Alliance of Ireland (SWAI) focusing on the impact of the recent sex purchase ban on sex workers’ health and well-being in the Republic of Ireland. Through a participative framework, employing peer led focus groups, this study explores how sex workers in Ireland are navigating their health and well-being within a restrictive legal environment. This research positions sex workers as experts in their own lives, challenging dominant discourses which discredit sex workers’ realities when they trouble abolitionist frameworks. This chapter reports on key findings emerging from sex worker voices collected in this study including impacts of sex working laws on health, safety, well-being and access to justice and indicates recommendations for rights based and inclusive policy for sex workers.

Introduction This study seeks to explore the ways in which sex workers understand their experiences of working under sex work legislation in the Republic of Ireland, including laws that criminalise the purchase of sexual services. Participants reflected on their experiences of working in Ireland both and after the passing of [the] Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. In 2017, the Republic of Ireland criminalised the purchase of sexual services and increased fines and sentences for brothel keeping. Method In 2020, semi-structured interviews lasting 60 to 90 min were conducted with 6 sex workers from diverse backgrounds, ages 24–44, actively working in Ireland since 2017. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions were used to conduct an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Seven themes arose from the data: psychological wellbeing, relationships with law enforcement, relationships with friends and family, the effects of client criminalisation laws on clients, benefits of sex work community, stress related to precarious accommodation and experiences of both discrimination and perceived discrimination. Conclusion Changes to sex work legislation appear to have failed in their mission to improve life for sex workers in Ireland. Other options such as decriminalisation should be considered.