By Jabulani Pereira

Iranti, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Department of Health (DoH), The African Centre for Migration and Society, The University of the Witwatersrand, Intersex South Africa (ISSA) and ARASA, are leading the dialogue and study tour to Malta and Brussels to learn more on the makings of Transgender and Intersex legal and policy frameworks. The study kicked off in Malta, which effectively transformed into laws to ensure greater self-determination on protections for Trans and Intersex persons. 

Malta has banned all intersex surgeries on children and have enforced a consent model, meaning essentially that children at the age of 16 can self-determine their gender identity.  Malta has created three categories which can apply to all citizens: Male, Female and Undetermined. This allows citizens who do not wish to declare their sex and gender to not do so.

This engagement takes the South African delegation from Malta to Brussels, where we will engage with the European Parliament on LGBTI+ issues. Several Trans and Intersex Rights organisations such as TENI, ILGA Europe, OII Europe, Utrecht University and Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Seksediversiteit (The Netherlands Organisation for Sexual Diversity, or NNID).

This EU-SA dialogue will not end in Malta and Brussels.  From 8 to 11 December, the SA delegation will convene a national conference on shaping and advancing Trans and Intersex policies for South Africa.  Depathologisation is what Iranti and our allies have fought for, and there is a collective recognition from the DOJ&CD, DHA and DoH that Trans and Intersex persons have been severely affected by systemic violations.

For more information on the conference please contact jade@iranti.org.za.