Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 132/21

WEBINAR ON TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN INDIAN JAILS HELD

With the objectives of creating dialogue between the members of the LGBTI+ communities in the region with Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority and initiating conversations on possible interventions by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority on protecting the rights of LGBTI+ persons in the state, a webinar on Lost Identity - Transgender Persons in Indian Prisons was organized today by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in collaboration with Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives. The programme was held at the office of MSLSA, Shillong.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. N A Khan, MHJS, Member Secretary MSLSA and District and Sessions Judge spoke about the socio-political marginalization of various communities due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sexual characteristics. Drawing attention to the Supreme Court Judgement in 2014 through the NALSA v. Union of India, which gave legal recognition to transgender persons as “third gender”, he said that the Judgement has given the responsibility to the States to recognize the third gender, ensure their equal participation in society and also grant them their rights as per law. He further stressed on the need for the State, the Police, the Prisons department and other stakeholders to take necessary steps to comply with the directives of the NALSA judgement.

The webinar was attended by representatives from the Police Department, Prisons, Social Welfare Department, panel lawyers, para legal volunteers, secretaries of the District Legal Services Authority, representatives from the LGBTI+ community of Meghalaya and NGOs working for their welfare SAATHI and Samakami.