Transform 2016: National Conference on Transgender Rights and Law
The Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bangalore actively participates in the public dialogue on gender issues, specifically transgender rights. We hosted TransForm, a national conference on transgender rights on the 14th and 15th of December 2016 at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore. We were successful in creating a platform for a fruitful discussion among people from diverse backgrounds. This included activists such as Akkai Padmashali, Anindya Hazra, Gee Imaan Semmalar, Karthik Kondaiah, Raina Roy, and Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli. We also had lawyers and academics such as Jayna Kothari, Diksha Sanyal, Arun Thiruvengadam, Chayanika Shah, Siddharth Narrain, Siddharth Swaminathan, and Vikramaditya Sahai. The agenda, pictures and videos of the event, and the conference report may be accessed here.
Transform 2018: International Conference on Transgender Rights and Law
Expanding on TransForm 2016, we hosted TransForm 2018 on 14th and 15th of April 2018, at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore. It marked the fourth anniversary of the National Legal Services Authority v Union of India judgment, as well as the 127th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. At a time when transgender rights had been gaining attention globally, this conference involved international speakers such as Prof. Stephen Whittle (United Kingdom), Prof. Carlos Zelada (Peru), Busisiwe Deyi (South Africa), and Audrey Mbugua (Kenya). Together, they broadened our understanding on the trans-law movements in other parts of the world.
The theme of the conference this year was trans-formation of the law, which we already underway in India, with the NALSA judgment, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 as well as the recent right to privacy decision of the Supreme Court in 2017, which reaffirmed that gender identity is part of the right to privacy and autonomy. These victories sit side by side with ongoing challenges the trans community faces, as it has begun to use the law for empowerment and in the process trans-forming it. More information on this year’s conference can be found here.
Recognizing the need to extend our knowledge on these issues, we also conduct a TransLaw Cell, which is a free legal aid program that we conduct on every Tuesday between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for issues faced by the transgender community, as well as any sexual minority.
Stay tuned to be updated on more information about TransForm 2018.
