I call on you to guarantee all means to legally recognize the identities of Yren Rotela and Mariana Sepúlveda, two transgender women. Denying them the right to legally change their names and obtain identity documents matching their gender identity is discriminatory. It impacts their ability to gain equal education, employment, housing, healthcare, and further exposes them to violence, harassment and stigma.

In Paraguay, trans activists are silenced and their protests are often banned or attacked. I call on you to guarantee legal frameworks to end this discriminatory practice. Without legal gender recognition, a transgender person’s ability to live in dignity, equality and security, and with the rights and protections afforded to other members of society, is severely compromised.

Yours sincerely,