January 19, 2012
IGLYO
The International LGBTQ Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) is deeply concerned about the case of an 11 year old trans girl in Berlin/Germany who is about to be committed to a mental institution by the local authorities.
The girl lives with her mother, who supports the young person’s gender expression. However, the girl’s father, divorced from the mother, strongly rejects his daughter’s gender identity and wants to force her to grow up as a boy. The father has gained the support of the Youth Welfare Office in Berlin, and the young girl is now to be committed to an mental institution as soon as possible. The child has not been examined by independent experts.
The board of IGLYO strongly advocates the rights of transgender youth and are concerned with the institutionalization of this happy and healthy child. We would like to highlight the endangerment of forced “therapy” to make children fit into the gender roles the society thinks are right for them. IGLYO follows the wealth of research that shows that reparative therapy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity can be seriously harmful to the child.
The Board of IGLYO declares our solidarity with the girl and her mother. Moreover, we ask the authorities of Berlin to intervene with the actions of the Youth Welfare Office and stop the removal of the child from her mother. We find it extremely irresponsible and unacceptable to remove any child from a loving and supportive home without thorough research and consultation with experts.
In line with international human rights standards, IGLYO advocates for the best interests of the child. The institutionalization of this child violates many human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
IGLYO is a Brussels-based umbrella organisation representing the needs and interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer young people throughout the pan-European region.
Further information can be found at http://www.taz.de/Transsexualitaet-im-Kindesalter/!85899/ (in German).
