A roundtable will be organised on 17 November 2021 by the SOGI Unit of the Council of Europe and the Parliament of North Macedonia to discuss the legal and practical situation of transgender, intersex and gender-diverse persons with regard to legal gender recognition in North Macedonia.
The event is held under the auspices of the Inter Party Parliamentary LGBTI Group of North Macedonia, with the participation of its chair, Maja Morachanin, and the Head of the SOGI Unit at the Council of Europe, Eleni Tsetsekou.
The roundtable will involve public authorities and civil society representatives who will discuss the current state of play on Legal Gender Recognition (LGR) in North Macedonia, the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment X v. North Macedonia (which led to proposal of law amendments to set up quick, transparent and accessible procedures, based on self-determination, for changing the registered sex of transgender people on birth certificates), the impact of the existing LGR procedures and experience by the persons concerned, as well as sharing of good practices. The discussion will feed into a report on legal gender recognition in North Macedonia expected to be published by the Council of Europe by the end of the year.
This roundtable is part of a Council of Europe activity to provide a “thematic analysis” on implementing the Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 to member states on measures to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The objective is to provide support to ongoing efforts to advance dialogue at national level on issues deemed important for the advancement of the human rights of LGBTI persons. This year’s analysis focuses on legal gender recognition and involves Spain, Cyprus, Lithuania and North Macedonia who have agreed to engage in a dialogue aimed at making progress on this human rights topic. First, this round of consultations will provide a space to discuss possible gaps and shortcomings in legal gender recognition in the countries concerned and identify priority reforms to make progress on the goals of Recommendation (2010)5. Second, it will increase the participation and engagement of a broad range of stakeholders, including civil society, in the process. Third, it will offer avenues for cooperation and set an agenda for reforms that could be jointly agreed by public authorities and civil society.
Live streaming (starting on 17 November at 9 a.m.)
