Human Rights Watch: Japan’s transgender sterilization law is ‘regressive
Human Rights Watch: Japan’s transgender sterilization law is ‘regressive
March 20 UPI A Japanese law that forces transgendered people to undergo surgical sterilization if they want to be legally recognized by their preferred gender violates the Asian country’s human rights obligations, said an international human rights organization
In the 84-page report, titled “A Really High Hurdle: Japan’s Abusive Transgender Legal Recognition Process Human Rights Watch demands that the Japanese government end its regressive and harmful law Requiring a medical intervention as a condition of having their gender identity legally recognized violates Japan human rights obligations and runs counter to international medical standards the nongovernmental organization said on its website. Under Japan’s 2004 GID Act, transgender people wanting to legally change their gender must appeal to a family court and meet specific criteria, which includes being unwed childless and under 20 years of age. The applicant must also undergo a psychiatric evaluation and received a gender identity disorder” diagnosis. They must also be sterile either by birth or by medical procedure. Japan should uphold the rights of transgender people and stop forcing them to undergo surgery to be legally recognized said Japan director at Human Rights Watch .