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Soros Foundations

The Public Health Program works closely with individual Soros foundations to implement policies and support local organizations. Find out more about Soros foundations.

Past Events

World Professional Association for Transgender Health Biennial Symposium

Location: Oslo, Norway
Event Date: June 17, 2009 - June 20, 2009

The Sexual Health and Rights Project and the Law and Health Initiative sponsored two panel sessions at the 21st Biennial Symposium of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

The first session dealt with the rights of transgender persons in prison and pre-trial health settings, including to continuing gender reassignment and hormone therapy.  Medical and legal experts agreed that existing medical standards governing transgender health should be revised to better address the particular situation of detained and incarcerated transgender persons. 

The second session dealt with the legal pre-conditions for changing gender identity, including the requirement in many countries that transgender persons undergo surgery and/or sterilization in order to change their gender status (or, in some cases, their legal name). Participants discussed the importance of moving beyond the traditional model of a “sex change” to one that emphasizes choice and the ability to change one’s gender without potentially invasive physical changes. 

The sessions produced policy recommendations which will inform the next version of WPATH's Standard of Care and Ethical Guidelines, articulating the organization's professional consensus about the psychiatric, psychological, medical, and surgical management of gender identity disorders.

WPATH is an international, multidisciplinary professional association whose mission is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, advocacy, training, and public policy with respect to transgender health.

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Related Information

Joining Forces: A Skills-Building Workshop in Collaborative Funding
New York City
July 13, 2009
As coordinator of the Sexual Health and Rights Working Group, SHARP organized a skills building workshop on collaborative funding models that took place at the International Human Rights Funders Group semi-annual conference.

Global Fund Adopts Strategy on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
June 2009
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria adopted a strategy to increase support for programs that address the needs of sexual minorities, transgender people, and sex workers.

HIV Prevalence, Risks for HIV Infection, and Human Rights among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana
April 2009
SHARP and OSISA funded research on risks for HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana.

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