GATE joins the international celebration of Human Rights Day. Calling for the collective building of a world with no room for human rights violations based on gender identity, gender expression and bodily diversity.
December 10, 2012, represents an important date for trans* celebration. For it is the first time in history, there is a national gender identity law –in Argentina- that fully respects trans* people’s human rights by guaranteeing their right to access to legal recognition and to transitional healthcare without any requirement incompatible with human rights standard, such as sterilization. Hopefully, this example will be followed by other similar initiatives in different countries and regions. This year was also the first time for the explicit inclusion of trans* issues in two key UN documents: the Report produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity” and the recently approved Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions.
These victories that we celebrate are not only landmarks for trans* activism worldwide. They underscore the work that still needs to be done in every region in order to dismantle all forms of stigma, discrimination, oppression and violence grounded on gender identity, gender expression and bodily diversity. As well as call for a renewal of international commitment with our struggle for human rights realization, everyday.
