The National Assembly of Pakistan enacted The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), Act 2018 on 8th May 2018. The Act provides legal recognition to transgender persons and prohibits discrimination and harassment. It also places an obligation on local governments to provide for the welfare of the community. DEFINITION OF “TRANSGENDER PERSONS” The definition of “transgender persons” […]
MINISTRY OF HEALTH CIRCULAR RECOGNISING TRANSGENDER PERSONS, 2006 (SRI LANKA)
The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka issued a circular in June 2006. This circular grants transgender persons the right to legally change their gender in their birth certificates. Transgender persons can use their birth certificate to legally change their gender in other identity documents. The circular also recognises the discrimination and violence faced by transgender […]
TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) ACT, 2019 (INDIA)
Following the judgment in NALSA v. Union of India, which directed the Central Government and State Governments to take various steps for the welfare of the transgender community and to treat them as a third gender for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of the Constitution and other laws made by Parliament […]
RULES ON THE ASSAM POLICY FOR TRANSGENDERS, 2020
The State Government of Assam is formulating Rules to accompany the Assam Policy for Transgender. The Rules enumerate the powers and functions of the State Transgender Welfare Board and procedure regarding proof of identification. IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION The Rules state that all Transgender persons are exempted from disclosures of any proof in regards to the […]
TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) RULES, 2020 (INDIA)
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on 25th September 2020, notified the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020. The Rules were issued in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 22 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 (‘2019 Act’). The Rules have addressed the following points: Certificate of Identity: Rule 3 […]
SECTION 48, ELECTIONS ACT, 2017 (PAKISTAN)
BACKGROUND: The National Identity Card (‘NIC’) is a crucial document in Pakistan. It is mandatory for, among other things: voting, banking, gas, electricity, water, SIM card and admission to colleges. Transgender persons have historically had a difficulty in obtaining the NIC under the gender they identify as. Issues also arose where transgender person did not […]
THE CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL, 2015
BACKGROUND: In the landmark case of Sunil Babu Pant v. Nepal Government (2007), the Supreme Court of Nepal recognized transgender persons and held that they have equal rights as citizens. It also recommended that sexual identity and gender orientation be added as prohibited grounds of discrimination. In the first Constituent Assembly of 2008-12, Sunil Babu […]