Transgender activists, government representatives, community representatives, diplomats and UN’s experts gathered at the UN Information Centre, on Thursday, to discuss the educational, economic and health issues faced by transgender community in Pakistan.
The event was jointly organised by the High Commission of Canada and UN Information Centre; it was followed by screening of the documentary “Kumu Hina” which features the real story of Hina Wong-Kalu, a native Hawaiian transgender.
The event was attended by Ambassador of the European Union Jean-Francois Cautain, Resident Coordinator of UN Neil Buhne, Country Director of UNESCO Vibeke Jensen, Country Director UNAIDS Mamadou Sahko, Director UNIC Vittorio Cammarota, corporate sector and transgender activists from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Haripur, Lahore and Peshawar.
The event featured two panel discussions: the first panel focused on education and economic empowerment for the transgender community, while the theme of second panel was healthcare and protection.
Trans community representative Maya Zaman said, “education is the only way forward to enhance the potential of the community and have their valuable contribution to the economy. She added, “we need a national action program for all the marginalised communities to engage them for socio economic development.
Another transgender representative, Anaya Malik, said that usually family members are the first ones to abandon transgender people, leaving them vulnerable, these would need to accept their children’s identity for the betterment of the community.”
Speaking on the occasion, Neil Buhne said that Pakistan is ahead of many other countries in legally recognising trans community as a third gender but it still has a long way to give them proper rights. “They are subjected to harassment and sexual violence. The Social Welfare Department needs to focus on this community and need to safeguard their rights, starting with education, health, and social protection,” he said.
Perry Calderwood, high commissioner of Canada said, “I am pleased that we can contribute to the dialogue on transgender rights and empowerment to strengthen their participation in this vibrant society.”
Member of the National Commission for Human Rights, Muhammad Shafique said: “if society raises voice about transgender rights then state would be compelled to respond, and this is a wonderful forum to start the debate,” he said.
Director of United Nations Information Centre, Vittorio Cammarota, said like the rest of the world, transgender people in Pakistan face alarmingly high levels of discrimination and stigma, as well as violence, unemployment and poverty. “The aim of this event is to foster a debate on human rights issues, and the priority actions are required to secure trans-rights, he said.
Jean-François Cautain drew parallels between the situation of transgenders in EU and Pakistan. “I think on this issue the EU and Pakistan can learn from each other,” he said.
Though officially accepted and even recognised in the identity cards, the transgender community in
Pakistan suffers from serious stigma and discrimination. Often rejected by their families, transgender people have very little access to the labour market and proper healthcare.
