The International Day of Action for Trans Depathologization
will take place this year on Saturday, October 22nd 2011. They are inviting all
activist groups around the world to participate in this call for action and go
out into the streets for trans depathologization.
To participate, please contact: contact@stp2012.info
Apart from this international day of action, STP 2012 will
continue working, in collaboration with other activist networks, in
international forums in favor of trans declassification, and through
participating in groups and work commissions. They intend to continue to
participate in regional and international meetings, symposiums and conferences,
with the objective of spreading the word about STP 2012 and creating spaces for
debate regarding trans depathologization.
International Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign - STP
2012, July 2011
www.stp2012.infoContact: contact@stp2012.info
On October 23rd 2010 - the International Day of Action for
the Depathologization of Trans Identities, which is coordinated by the
International Stop Trans Pathologization (STP) 2012 Campaign - demonstrations
and other actions in favor of trans depathologization took place in 61 cities
of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The number of cities
proves to be a significant growth in comparison to the mobilizations from the
past year, when 41 cities organized demonstrations and other actions. To this
date, more than 270 groups and activist networks from various regions of the
world have joined the STP 2012 Campaign.
Additionally, during the past two years several statements
for depathologization and/or depsychopathologization of transexuality have
been published by international activist
networks, among
them Asia Pacific Transgender Network ILGA Europe
ILGA-Europe / TGEU (Malta Declaration) ILGA Trans Secretariat STRAP and
Transgender Europe as well as international and national professional associations such as SOCUMES and
WPATH. Within the political sphere, over the span of these last two years, we
have observed a growing inclusion of
trans depathologization issues in national and international political agendas,
as mentioned in documents, recommendations and statements issued by
international organizations and governments; these include the “Human Rights
and Gender Identity” Issue Paper by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human
Rights, Thomas Hammarberg. the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’
Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 the Resolution 1728 (2010) of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly and the Human Rights Comment by Thomas
Hammarberg “Clear laws needed to protect
trans persons from discrimination and hatred,” published on July 26th 2011as
well as statements issued by governments such as the Spanish Government and the
French Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs Furthermore, on October 23rd of
2010, International Day of Action for Trans
Depathologization, the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights
posed a parliamentary question to the
Council of Europe regarding their position on the subject of trans
declassification, a question that was
answered in January 2011 by the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection While observing a growing support to the STP 2012 demands from
activists and professionals, and an increased presence of this issue in
international political agendas, we are
also noticing a lack of translation of these statements of interest into actual
changes in the health and legal situations of trans people in various regions
around the world. Thus, trans people’s experiences continue to be characterized
by a logic of pathologization.
In February 2010 a draft of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 was published, which, besides some
terminological modifications (“gender incongruence” instead of “gender identity
disorders”) and changes in the diagnosis criteria, still maintained the
classification of gender expressions, trajectories and identities as a mental
health disorder. STP 2012 analyzed this draft in a communiqué and in a letter
directed to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) On May 4th, 2011, a new
draft of the “gender dysphoria” chapter was published on the APA website
dedicated to the development of the DSM-5.
This last version has new changes in terminology (“gender
dysphoria” instead of “gender
incongruence”) and includes new diagnostic criteria and additional
specifications. It also changes its position in the general structure of the
DSM-5 – “gender dysphoria” is now in a different chapter than the one “sexual
dysfunctions” and “paraphilias” are in. Just like we did in 2010, STP 2012 sent
a letter 3 to the APA regarding these last modifications with regard to the
“gender dysphoria” chapter in the DSM-5 draft.
We as STP 2012 note with concern that, despite the recent
modifications in the latest version of the draft, trans expressions,
trajectories and identities continue to
be classified as mental health issues, both through the diagnostic criteria of
“gender dysphoria” and “transvestic disorder.” Therefore, we deem that the main
demand of the STP 2012 Campaign still stands: that is, the removal of
pathologizing diagnostic criteria related to trans expressions, trajectories,
and identities (in their varying terminological terms) from the DSM and ICD
psychiatric diagnostic manuals.
In addition to the ongoing classification of trans
identities as mental health disorders in the DSM-5 draft, we also observe the
persistence of pathologizing situations in trans persons’ daily lives, both in
legal and health arenas. In many countries around the world, trans people have
no access to good quality, statecovered trans-specific healthcare. In countries
where the public health system does include trans-specific healthcare, access
to services is often bound to psychiatric or medical monitoring.
Let us also be reminded of the
Historic Decision at the United Nations: Human Rights
Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
(Geneva, June 17, 2011) In a groundbreaking achievement for
upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),
the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on human rights
violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L9/rev1).
The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brasil
and 39 additional co-sponsors from all regions of the world, was passed by a
vote of 23 in favour, 19 against, and 3 abstentions. A list of how States voted is attached. In
its presentation to Council, South Africa recalled the UDHR noting that
“everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any
kind” and Brasil called on the Council to “open the long closed doors of
dialogue”.
Today’s resolution is the first UN resolution ever to bring
specific focus to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and
gender identity, and follows a joint statement on these issues delivered at the
March session of the council. It affirms the universality of human rights, and
notes concern about acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity. This commitment of the Human Rights Council
sends an important signal of support to human rights defenders working on these
issues, and recognizes the legitimacy of their work.
“The South African government has now offered progressive
leadership, after years of troubling and inconsistent positions on the issue of
sexual orientation and gender identity. Simultaneously, the government has set
a standard for themselves in international spaces. We look forward to
contributing to and supporting sustained progressive leadership by this
government and seeing the end of the violations we face daily”. (Dawn Cavanagh,
Coalition of African Lesbians)
The resolution requests the High Commissioner for Human
Rights to prepare a study on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity, and calls for a panel discussion to be held at
the Human Rights Council to discuss the findings of the study in a constructive
and transparent manner, and to consider appropriate follow-up.
“That we are celebrating the passage of a UN resolution
about human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation is remarkable,
however the fact that gender identity is explicitly named truly makes this
pivotal moment one to rejoice in,” added Justus Eisfeld, Co-Director of
GATE. “The Human Rights Council has
taken a step forward in history by acknowledging that both sexual and gender
non-conformity make lesbian, gay, trans* and bi people among those most
vulnerable and indicated decisively that states have an obligation to protect
us from violence.”
"As treaty bodies, UN special procedures, and national
courts have repeatedly recognized, international human rights law prohibits
discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.” (Alli
Jernow, International Commission of Jurists)
The resolution is consistent with other regional and
national jurisprudence, and just this week, the 2011 United Nations Political
Declaration on HIV and AIDS recognised the need to address the human rights of
men who have sex with men, and the Organization of American States adopted by
consensus a resolution condemning violence and discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation and gender identity.
Earlier in this 17th session of the Human Rights Council,
the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and
consequences, Rashida Manjoo, reported to the Council that:
“[C]ontributory factors for risk of violence include
individual aspects of women’s bodily attributes such as race, skin colour,
intellectual and physical abilities, age, language skills and fluency, ethnic
identity and sexual orientation.”
The report also detailed a number of violations committed against
lesbian, bisexual and trans women, including cases of rape, attacks and
murders. It is therefore regrettable
that a reference to "women who face sexuality-related violence" was
removed from the final version of another resolution focused on the elimination
of violence against women during the same session.
"Despite this inconsistency, we trust the UN resolution
on sexual orientation and gender identity will facilitate the integration of
the full range of sexual rights throughout the work of the UN." (Meghan
Doherty, Sexual Rights Initiative).
A powerful civil society statement was delivered at the end
of the session, welcoming the resolution and affirming civil society’s
commitment to continuing to engage with the United Nations with a view to ensuring
that all persons are treated as free and equal in dignity and rights, including
on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Now, our work is just beginning”, said Kim Vance of ARC
International. “We look forward to the High Commissioner’s report and the
plenary panel next March, as well as to further dialogue with, and support
from, those States which did not yet feel able to support the resolution, but
which share the concern of the international community at these systemic human
rights abuses.”
ARC International, John Fisher (Geneva) +41 79 508 3968 or
john@arc-international.net
Amnesty International, Peter Splinter (Geneva) +41 (0) 22
906 9483 or Emily Gray (London) +44 (0) 20 7413 5865
CAL – Coalition of African Lesbians, Dawn Cavanagh (South
Africa) + 27 11 918 6115 or dawn@cal.org.za
COC Nederland, Björn van Roozendaal (Netherlands) +31 6 22
55 83 00 or BvanRoozendaal@coc.nl
Council for Global Equality, Mark Bromley (Washington) +1.202.719.0511 orMark@globalequality.org
GATE - Global Action for Trans* Equality, Justus Eisfeld
(New York) jeisfeld@transactivists.org, +1-646-341-1699 or Mauro Cabral
(Argentina)mcabral@transactivists.org or +54 9 351 5589876
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights,
Stefano Fabeni (Washington) +1 312-919-3512 or sfabeni@heartlandalliance.org
Human Rights Watch, Siphokazi Mthathi (South Africa)
mthaths@hrw.org or + 27 82 777 1319/ +27 11 484 2640 or Juliette De Rivero
(Geneva) +41 079 640 1649 or derivej@hrw.org
IDAHO - International Day Against Homophobia and
Transphobia, Joel Bedos (France) jbedos@dayagainsthomophobia.org
IGLHRC - International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission, Jessica Stern (New York) + 1 212 430 6014 or jstern@iglhrc.org
ILGA- the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Intersex Association, Renato Sabbadini, +32 474 857 950 or renato@ilga.org
International Campaign Stop Trans Pathologization STP 2012,
Amets Suess, stp2012@gmail.com
International Commission of Jurists, Alli Jernow (Geneva)
+41(0)22 979 3800) orallison.jernow@icj.org
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Bjorn
Pettersson (Geneva),b.pettersson@ishr.ch, +41 22 919 7117
Sexual Rights Initiative, Meghan Doherty, Sexual Rights
Initiative, +41 (0)78 871 6713 or meghan@acpd.ca
Thailand's Sexual Diversity Network, Paisarn
Likhitpreechakul +66 81 634 3450 orforsogi@gmail.com
Transgender Europe (TGEU), Carla LaGata (Germany),
mana@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Attachment (Records of Vote and Co-Sponsorship)
States supporting the resolution: Argentina, Belgium,
Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Mauritius,
Mexico, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland,
Ukraine, Thailand, UK, USA, Uruguay
States against the resolution: Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Ghana, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Moldova, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Uganda.
Abstentions: Burkina Faso, China, Zambia
Absent: Kyrgyzstan, Libya (suspended)
Co-Sponsors of the resolution: Albania, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, United States of America, and Uruguay.
Peace and tolerance
H
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