IDAHO targets transphobia at UN and WHO on 17th May

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia will be celebrated this year again on May 17th. Like every year, the "IDAHO" (as it is usually called), will see actions and initiatives take place in many countries and contexts and on many different issues. All these activities and initiatives are a very strong signal to all, decisions makers, public opinion, civil rights movements, human rights defenders, etc. throughout the world.

This year, it was decided to put this emphasis on the burning and often neglected issue of transphobia.

The Day has already been officially recognised by Mexico, Costa Rica, France, the UK, Belgium, the European Parliament, etc. and the list keeps getting longer every year. This provides a forceful argument to engage initiatives even in contexts where authorities might not be supportive.

Why an appeal against transphobia and for gender identity respect?

At international level, IDAHO has identified as targets both the UN system at large and the World Health Organisation, which still officially classifies trans people as "mentally disordered".

But of course a lot of the struggle for trans rights takes place at national level, so this appeal also includes a section on the necessary national level policy changes.

More plus the appeal itself