15, Mar 2018 | CJP Team

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that the country’s government cannot mandate judicial review or medical procedures for transgender people wishing to alter their name and gender marker on identification papers, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported. Previously, transgender people in Brazil had been allowed to change their name and legal gender on certain identification documents and in the national civil registry, but had to first participate in psychiatric evaluations and undergo surgery. They also had to secure a judicial order from the Public Prosecutor. Around the world, policies in some countries have moved towards basing legal gender recognition on how a person self-identifies, rather than the approval of an external party such as a psychologist. Following a landmark law passed in Argentina in 2012, anyone above the age of 18 can select their own gender and alter official papers without the need for medical or judicial approval. Other countries that have taken steps towards legal gender recognition include Colombia, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, and Malta.