More rights wanted for transgenders

18/01/2008 7:24:01 Newstalk ZB

The Human Rights Commission wants greater recognition of the rights of transgender people, including the right for children to change their gender.

The commission has carried out an 18 month inquiry and says immediate action is needed to improve access to gender reassignment health services. It wants the processes for changing birth certificates and passports simplified and anti-discrimination laws strengthened, particularly for children still at school.

It says some schools refuse to acknowledge a change of name, ignore bullying and clamp down on what transgender children wear to school.

The report says transgender children have the right to be accepted for who they are, but are dependent on teachers and parents to ensure they are understood and protected.