OTD Chile participates in meeting for the elaboration of the Gender Identity Law regulation

The Undersecretary for Children of the Ministry of Social Development, together with the Undersecretary for Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice, called on civil society organizations to participate in a meeting to draw up the future regulations of the Gender Identity Law, which must be presented on June 10th to the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic.

Lorena Recabarren, Undersecretaries of Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice and Carol Bown de Niñez of the Ministry of Social Development attended the meeting, along with professionals from the Ministry of Justice, Health and Social Development, who will form a technical committee to create the regulation foreseen in the 23rd article of the law, which establishes the support to thousands and trans adolescents and their families.

In OTD Chile, Franco Fuica’s area of legislation and public policies introduced the work done by the organization, along with proposing an affirmative approach to the gender identity of adolescents. “We want to focus on working with families and communities of children and adolescents so they can understand and respect the person who socializes their identity. We want children to grow up in a space of care and love that allows them to be who they are free and on equal terms.”

Most organizations agreed on the need to ensure an integrated approach that allows families and adolescents to understand the identity process and the importance of recognition. This could be done by non-profit organizations, public or private, with qualified professionals. All were concerned about funding, as well as the need to highlight the existing regulations for the protection of trans people (education and health circulars), as well as the necessary training for officials to improve relations.

Eventually, the Government agreed to provide the organizations with a draft of the regulations before formalizing them, as well as to consider the possibility of meeting with trans children and adolescents to hear their opinions.

Organizations that worked in trans communities that participated were OTD Chile, Fundación Selenna, Juntos Contigo, Renaciendo, Sindicato Amanda Jofré, Todo Mejora, among others.

Traslation: Mariana Galvez y Lilly Parra.