The draft law in India which aims at protecting the rights of the transgender community must be strengthened to allow people to be legally recognised by self- identification rather than based on the opinions of experts, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.
The upper house of Indian parliament passed “The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill” in April last year, which recognises the right of an individual to be termed as a third gender and provides them with benefits in education and employment.
The bill, which was introduced by a private member, is now in the process of being formulated into a possible law by the ministry of social justice and empowerment and will be put before both houses in the coming months.