Workshop on Transgender Rights Held at Nuals

KOCHI:
A two day workshop on “Queer lives and legal impediments” was held by Centre for Human Rights of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi in association with Human Rights Law Network and Sahayathrika. The workshop was inaugurated by Retd District Judge P Mohandas, Acting Chairperson, Kerala Human rights Commission.
Renowned Human Rights activists Adv. Kranthi L.C. (Executive Director, HRLN), Sharath Cheloor (Sahayathrika), Adv. Sandhya Ranju (Director, HRLN, Kerala), Sheethal Syam, Vijayaraja Mallika, Chinju Aswathy, Adv. Induja, Sree S., Faizal CKD, Gay bRights activist Dr. Jijo Kuriakose and Director (i/c) of CHR Namitha K.L. spoke at the
event.
Opinions which were raised in the workshop included criticisms on the newly introduced Kerala State Transgender Policy and the National Transgender Bill. The transgender community bmembers were not consulted before the framing of the policy. The policy doesn’t provide for anybspecial education scheme for transgender dropouts, marriage, adoption, or protection withinbfamily. The conclusion of the workshop indicated that most of the key concerns of the
transgender community remains unaddressed. A committee comprising of volunteers from CHR
NUALS, HRLN and Sahayathrika was formed to draft a proposal to the State government for the government regarding the policy.