Transgender Community and Civil Society Demand Government Action on Welfare and Rights

BY: WAQAR HUSSAIN

Pakistan’s transgender community and civil society have raised significant concerns over the federal and provincial governments’ neglect of their welfare in the 2024-2025 budget. They also highlighted the lack of implementation of existing laws aimed at preventing discrimination and violence against transgender individuals.

A convention organized by The Sub-Ring Society and The Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan (CIP), leading advocates for transgender rights, brought together prominent figures such as Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairman Iqbal Detho, former Provincial Minister Shamim Mumtaz, CEO of Sabrang Society Ms. Kami Chaudhry, Civil Society activist Rana Asif, Election Commission Pakistan’s (ECP) Khuda Bakhsh, Pakistan’s first transgender doctor, Dr. Sarah Gill, and several others.

During the convention, speakers emphasized the federal and provincial governments’ injustice in failing to allocate budget funds for transgender welfare. They urged the introduction of initiatives like health cards and public transport cards specifically for the transgender community. Additionally, they called for the establishment of ‘Protection Centers’ nationwide, similar to those in Punjab, to ensure the safety and support of transgender individuals.

The attendees urged authorities to immediately implement existing laws designed to protect transgender persons and to pass more effective legislation to eradicate inhumane discrimination. Emphasizing the need for behavioral change within the police force, they advocated for training police officers and first responders to better support transgender individuals. They also demanded representation for the transgender community in national and provincial assemblies to include their voices in decision-making processes.

Furthermore, the participants called for the Election Commission of Pakistan to release separate data for transgender voters, alongside male and female statistics. They suggested that forms used under the Elections Act and Elections Rules 2017 should include “Mx” as a salutation option, in addition to Mr./Mrs./Ms. To bolster the rights of transgender individuals, they proposed provincial legislation mirroring the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, enacted by the federal parliament.

This convention marks a significant step in highlighting the ongoing struggles of Pakistan’s transgender community and calls for immediate and comprehensive government action to ensure their rights and welfare.