NOT much has been done to address discriminatory remarks made in public against members of the transgender society.
This was an issue raised at the youth forum in Labasa on Wednesday night when transgender Uate Lesi informed Parliament Speaker Doctor Jiko Luveni about inhumane and degrading experiences.
The forum was part of the International Democracy Day celebrations.
Mr Lesi, who identified himself as a transgender, told the forum that the remarks had also been made by civil servants on board government vehicles while travelling through Labasa Town.
He said he had been humiliated, verbally victimised and degraded by public members in town.
In an interview, after the forum, he said he had faced the verbal abuse for more than two years.
“I have never walked down this town a free person and to be free from abusive remarks made by people when I am in town,” he said.
“I hope something can be done about transgenders’ rights not only in Labasa, but in the country as well because we also have rights.
“People should respect our rights and respect us too because we are human beings.”
In response, Dr Luveni said he could always organise a petition.
Dr Luveni also told him that their rights were protected in the 2013 Constitution and should be upheld.
She urged everyone to respect transgenders because they were also human beings.
The Rainbow Pride Foundation executive director Isikeli Vulavou said under the Bill of Rights, the rights of people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) were protected.
“Yet transgender persons and the members of the broader LGBTI communities in Fiji continue to disproportionately suffer persecution, violence and discrimination almost on a daily basis,” he said.
“There is a huge gap between constitutional text and access to justice in law and in practice.
“We call explicitly for all legislation, laws, policies and practices to be made consistent with such constitutional law and adequate resources allocated to support its implementation.”
