October is the time of the year when the Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign takes place (October 24th ) calling for the removal of trans identities from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), organized by World Health Organization, as you can check here. This year the campaign focused specifically on Depathologizing Gender Diversity in Childhood and the Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) has circulated a remarkable interview with Dainius Puras, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, in which he shares his views on the effects psychiatric norms and practices on trans people and advocates for depathologization as a human right.
Also in October, the Catholic Church, under Francis I, deserves attention as this was when the long announced Synod on the Family took place in Rome. The final statement of the gathering, not surprisingly, while more inclusive in relation to divorce, preserve the Church doctrines closed to the claims of same-sex couples.
The good news of the month is that in Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities feminists have taken the streets to loudly protest against partially approved legislation that criminalizes providing information and assistance in regard to abortion and potentially prohibits the access to emergency contraception.
In Indonesia regressions have taken place in respect to sexual freedoms. In the Aceh province criminal Sharia law, passed in 2014, came into effect on October 23th. These new legal norms prescribe punishment of 100 lashes for adultery, public displays of affection by unmarried couples, and homosexual acts.
We recommend
The revisiting of SPW two volume publication Sexuality and Politics: Regional Dialogues from the Global South. Edited by Sonia Corrêa, Rafael de la Dehesa and Richard Parker the e-book were launched last year in September.
The Transgender Europe’s (TGEU) new map that provides trans rights data — such as ‘Legal Situation’, ‘Health Care Situation’ and ‘Social Situation’ — from 190 countries around the world.
Sexual Rights Initiative’s overview from the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council, ended in early October in Geneva.
Akhil Kang ‘s article “Undetermined Discriminations: Trans* persons Rights Emerging post 2014 in India”.
Check it out
Farewell
On October 14th, the internationally known Argentinean trans activist Amancay Diana Sacayán was found dead in her apartment. Her death means a major loss for the Latin American trans movement and has sparked expressions of indignation across the region and the world. SPW mourns her death and calls for consistent policy measures to prevent transphobic murders and for transparent police investigation and proper judicial measures to be taken.
