Clear Gender Identity Warning from the UN to the Portuguese Parliament: "Withdraw the Bills"

Gender identity debates, which have flared up in Portuguese politics in recent months, are now directly on the agenda of the international arena. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights took a clear and harsh stance against the new draft laws introduced by the centre-right and right-wing parties and demanded that these regulations be withdrawn. In his letter to Parliament Speaker José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized that these drafts prepared by PSD, CHEGA and CDS-PP may directly contradict the international human rights agreements signed by the country. Letter; It was written following the official application made to the UN by Bloco de Esquerda (BE) MP Fabian Figueiredo and European Parliament MP Catarina Martins. Medical Report Obligation and Discrimination ConcernThe focus of the debate is on making the name and gender change processes in population records more difficult again. Bills presented by right-wing parties; It envisages the introduction of a medical evaluation and report requirement instead of people's own statements. The UN High Commissioner underlines that this approach carries the risk of turning the process into a "pathological case" again. According to human rights standards, it is stated that legal gender recognition processes should remain a simple administrative procedure, free from bureaucratic obstacles and based on the individual's own free will and privacy. It is stated that the bills in their current form will damage the fundamental commitments that bind Portugal, such as the Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Bans Under 18 and Children's Rights. The letter specifically states that CHEGA and CDS-PP apply to young people under the age of 18. Attention is drawn to the strict prohibitions he wants to impose on Stating that expressions such as "gender identity disorder" in the draft laws clearly stigmatize transgender individuals, the UN warned that a wholesale ban on young people's access to puberty blockers or hormone treatments would result in serious human rights violations. According to the UN analysis, such wholesale bans regardless of age limit; It directly targets young people's right to health, the guarantee of non-discrimination and the principle of the best interest of the child. Volker Türk demands that if the bills are not completely withdrawn, the process be completely revised with transparent and comprehensive civil consultations in order to comply with international standards.Source: LUSA / Portugal Resident (Natasha Donn) Image Source: Hadi Mizban