Promoting Transgender Rights and Inclusion at Hanoi Pride Week

The Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam jointly organized a workshop to exchange knowledge and dialogue on the rights and challenges that transgender people face regarding relatives and property.

With support from the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam, the Workshop was held during Hanoi Pride Week - an annual event to celebrate love, diversity and inclusion.

Thảo thúc đẩy quyền và sự hòa nhập của người chuyển giới trong Tuần lễ Tự hào Hà Nội

Conference scene. (Source: UNDP in Vietnam)

The positive and vibrant spirit of the week inspired constructive dialogue, contributing to the shaping of the first Gender Reassignment Law in Vietnam.

Transgender people face many challenges due to their identification documents not matching their actual gender identity. As a result, their access to health care, housing, employment opportunities, education , and other rights and services are affected by the inability to change their legal gender.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, emphasized the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the dignity and equal rights of all individuals, including transgender people.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi emphasized: “The principle of non-discrimination enshrined in international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both of which were ratified by Vietnam in 1982, is very important to protect the rights of transgender people.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be possible without transgender inclusion, in line with the core principle of Agenda 2023: Leaving no one behind”.

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil and Economic Law, Ministry of Justice, said: “Transgender people need to resolve personal and property issues. To resolve these issues, it is essential to consult and study international legal experience.

Through consulting international experience; combining the institutionalization of the Party and State's policies and guidelines; studying the cultural, social characteristics and economic conditions of Vietnam, we have built regulations to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of transgender people."

At the workshop, National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Anh Tri, who drafted the Law on Gender Reassignment, presented the current status of gender reassignment in Vietnam and issues that require reference to international experience.

Specifically, experience in applying the law to transgender people in different countries; age prescribed in the law; medical intervention; regulations on marital status in performing medical intervention or in gender recognition procedures of transgender people; some legal issues arising after medical intervention for gender reassignment; administrative procedures in recognizing gender reassignment; and competent authorities to confirm/recognize the gender of transgender people.

Experiences and insights from three countries, Japan, Pakistan and Ireland, on the journey towards legal recognition and social acceptance of transgender people, focusing on the areas of identity and property, were shared by representatives of the three countries at the workshop.

Delegates attending the workshop took a souvenir photo. (Source: UNDP in Vietnam)

Mr. Conor Finn, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam, said that Ireland has come a long way in this area in just a few short years and has brought about significant improvements in legal protection for transgender people.

He affirmed: "The two countries Ireland and Vietnam have a close and valuable friendship, we are very happy to participate in sharing experiences at this workshop." He expressed his belief that Vietnam's draft law on gender reassignment is a real opportunity to expand legal protection for the transgender community.

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