Cape Town, South Africa: Today, a coalition of South African healthcare professionals, activists, and international leaders announced the official endorsement of a position statement advocating for the rights of transgender and gender-diverse young people to access evidence-based care. This statement, originally written on 18 August 2024, has now gathered signatures from more than a hundred leading professionals, scholars, and community leaders, as well as an endorsement by thirty organisations. It stands as a unified call for urgent action to uphold the dignity and rights of young people across the country.
The statement highlights the critical importance of supporting transgender and gender-diverse young people with affirming, developmentally appropriate, and accessible care. As anti-gender movements continue to spread misinformation and create hostility, this position statement reaffirms South Africa’s constitutional and legislative commitments to equality and dignity, urging all sectors to protect the rights of these young people.
Judith Butler, Author and Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, endorsed the statement, saying: “This statement is a model for the rights of health care to which all young people are entitled. A health policy that respects both dignity and freedom requires a pledge such as this.”
Key Resolutions:
- Recognising the right to self-determination: The statement affirms that all young people have the inherent right to determine and express their gender identity freely, without external imposition or discrimination.
- Creating safe and affirming spaces: Inclusive environments are essential, where young people and their families can explore and realise their gender identity in safe, supportive spaces that foster healthy development and authentic self-expression.
- Ensuring equitable access to evidence-based care: The statement calls for expanding access to comprehensive care, including psychological, social, and medical services, to all transgender and gender-diverse young people across South Africa, regardless of socio-economic or geographic barriers.
- Prioritising young people’s voices in decision-making: The statement underscores the importance of centring young people’s experiences and insights in decisions that impact their lives, ensuring that policies and care frameworks align with their needs.
A Call for Accountability
The signatories demand that government bodies, healthcare institutions, and educational systems take concrete steps to uphold the rights of transgender and gender-diverse young people. By standing in solidarity with them, stakeholders can ensure that they live authentically, without fear or prejudice. The statement is a call for inclusive, compassionate care that prioritises the voices and wellbeing of young people.
Support the Movement
An online petition is now live, calling on the South African government and institutions to commit to providing evidence-based, affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse young people. Link to petition: Change.org.
The full position statement, with signatures from healthcare professionals, human rights advocates, and academics, is available for download. Download the full statement: https://pathsa.org.za/.
About the Coalition
The position statement is supported by a coalition of South African and international organisations and individuals dedicated to promoting the rights and dignity of transgender and gender-diverse young people. The coalition aims to advance evidence-based healthcare and challenge harmful narratives that threaten the wellbeing of young people in South Africa.
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