ISLAMABAD, (Parliament Times) : Transgender Protection of Rights Act 2018 a landmark legislation in Pakistan protecting the fundamental human rights of transgender persons is at the risk of being undone and an organized propaganda is being run to risk the lives of transgender persons, activists, and allies. This law is fully in line with the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 protecting the fundamental human rights of Pakistani citizens beyond race, gender, sex, faith, or ethnicity. Transgender protection of rights act is reinforcing the rights by protecting right to education, health, employment, non-discrimination, right to vote or to hold public office, right to assembly and associate, right to inheritance and right to buy or sell the properties.
Pakistan has received huge respect and applause on passing this important law to protect the right of transgender persons across the human rights platforms and amongst the human rights’ global communities. This law is playing an important role to encourage transgender persons to take active and meaningful part to pursue education and opt for mainstream decent livelihood. It also encouraged parents and families of transgender persons to not only accept their children gender identity but also provide them protection within the family they deserve and ensure an inclusive family unit. Every citizen of the country has a right to choose gender identity and expression without being threatened or harassed.
Forum for Dignity Initiatives- fdi is a right based organization working for transgender, women, and young people rights since 2013. fdi called this peaceful protest to register our concern around ongoing propaganda to undo the transgender protection of rights act 2018. We are deeply concerned about the safety and security of transgender persons, transgender rights activists and transgender rights organizations and allies. The ongoing propaganda has serious consequences and involve life risk for all of us standing for the transgender rights in Pakistan. We with the responsible and sensitive members of civil society of Pakistan strongly condemns this propaganda against transgender persons rights of act and we urge state to have assertive actions to protect the rights of transgender persons.