Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/528426
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015 News from Ultra All-Inclusive including all Meals, Drinks, Tips, Taxes & 7 Excursions €999 www.smsmondial.com.mt Valletta | Birkirkara | Paola | Sliema | Hamrun | Gozo Tel: 2277 6000 2016 PRE-SALE - BOOK BY 31 JULY 2015 & SAVE ěũũ#1+2ũ.$ũ3'#ũ"1(3(! Katakolon, Corfu, Kotor & Dubrovnik ěũũ1##!#ũĜũ41*#8 Athens, Mykonos, Bodrum & Catania Malta to Malta Cruises 2016 ...in a class on its own Trans policy for schools suggests end to segregation in uniforms, facilities MARTINA BORG A school policy for trans stu- dents will help educational in- stitutions address the needs of transgender, gender variant and intersex students. Minister for civil liberties and social dialogue Helena Dalli said the policy would lead to an envi- ronment of better acceptance for transgender people in society. "The policy addresses an ex- isting reality for children and young people," Dalli said. Dalli also said that both her ministry and the ministry of education and employment had been contacted about cases where transgender people had difficulties securing a job or at school about identification on legal documents. "It is society that creates these issues, and the government has a duty to try to address them and instil better acceptance in society. We all deserve the same rights," she said. In a case where one woman was seeking a job, despite her ad- equate qualifications the woman had difficulties in proving that the certificates she had were indeed hers, given the fact that they were issued under a differ- ent name and gender, Dalli said. Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said the policy was part of a framework of policies to support and promote social in- clusion and celebrate diversity. "One of the advantages of a co- education system is that it will allow for more space where in- tersex or trans gender students can express themselves and not feel trapped," Bartolo said. He admitted that single-sex schools posed a greater problem for intersex and transgender stu- dents, who would have to switch from one school to another. "This policy will address all aspects of education and how students will be taught to im- prove their attitudes and respect towards one another." The policy is the first in a se- ries of steps following the pass- ing of the Gender Identity Act (GIGESC) in April that pro- tects the rights of trans, gender variant and intersex individuals from discrimination and aids in the self-determination of their identity. Dalli said the forward-thinking law was setting an example for other countries, amongst them Belgium, with whom Malta has signed a memorandum of agree- ment to assist in formulating its own law. Malta Gay Rights Movement coordinator Gabi Calleja said the new policy recommends an end to gender segregation in things like uniforms, some sports lessons, as well as facili- ties like toilets. The policy, divided into three sections, gives guidelines for schools dealing with students who identify as transgender or intersex. The first section includes the policy frameworks and the hu- man rights and values at the core of the policy. The second section includes more concrete indicators and gives schools advice on how to act, with the third section look- ing at how individual schools can implement the strategies. Calleja added that although there may be initial resistance to some of the changes, the educa- tion towards more acceptance needed to occur at some point. The International Lesbian Gay Association of Europe said the new policy marked yet another step towards full equality for LGBTI people in Malta. "The policy is the first of its kind in Europe; no other Euro- pean country has a comprehen- sive education policy focusing on the needs of trans, gender variant and intersex children. It identified several particular needs that must be addressed in- cluding confidentiality, adequate facilities, support, inclusive poli- cies, the possibility to amend documentation and access to in- formation," ILGA-Europe said. "What is so exciting about this policy is the fact that it could pave the way for similar initia- tives all over Europe. "There is no need for countries to have the equivalent of the GI- GESC Act already in place. "This is a change legislators can make right away to improve the lives of all children," said ILGA-Europe Senior Policy and Programmes Officer Sophie Au- jean. Gabi Calleja