Webinar on transgenders in Indian prisons

SHILLONG, April 19: With an objective to create a dialogue between the members of the LGBTI+ communities and the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), a webinar on ‘Lost Identity – Transgender Persons in Indian Prisons’ was organised here on Monday by the MSLSA in collaboration with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives.
The event also focused on initiating conversations on possible interventions by the MSLSA on protecting the rights of LGBTI+ persons in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, NA Khan, Member Secretary of MSLSA and District and Sessions Judge, talked about the socio-political marginalisation of various communities due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sexual characteristics.
Drawing attention to the Supreme Court judgement in 2014, which gave legal recognition to transgender persons as ‘third gender’, Khan said that the judgement has given the responsibility to the states to recognise the third gender and ensure their equal participation in the society and also grant them their rights as per law.
He further stressed on the need for the state, police, prisons department and other stakeholders to take necessary steps to comply with the directives of the judgement.
The webinar was attended by representatives from the Police department, Social Welfare department, etc.