The second National Transgender Summit was organised by India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to plan the effective strategies for successful implementation of gender affirming medical care, and addressing and mitigating cases of violence against transgender community members. The summit started in Eros hotel Delhi on March 3 and will continue till March 4, 2022.
“There is a need for legislative change to advance the rights of transgender community members so that we move towards a gender-inclusive future.”, stated Dr Rochana Mitra, Acting Chief Executive, Alliance India.
The summit focussed on proper understanding of the beneficiaries about Acts, and all other policies and schemes designed for transgender community members and how to promote easy access to all those facilities involving both the community and the concerned departments or Ministries.
Anurag, an official in the India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) said, “Transgender persons in India have been facing challenges for a long time in terms of access to basic services such as education, healthcare, livelihood and legal aid. One of such crucial needs is community friendly and easy access to gender-affirming care. The COVID-19 pandemic has furthermore affected this population, in terms of more marginalization, lack of access to basic needs, such as livelihood, shelter and healthcare.” Gulfhan, another official at alliance india said, “Considering the above mentioned concerns and the identified areas to work upon, the objectives that Second National Transgender Summit have, are gender affirming medical care and how to follow the necessary protocols to access the medically approved Standard of Care (SoC) from the Indian context. Number two is, legal gender affirmation processes, considering Transgender Persons Act 2019 (Protection of Rights) and the facilities offered through the National Transgender Portal. And thirdly, addressing and mitigating cases of violence against transgender community members.”