Third Party Intervention in X v Macedonia Case

Transgender Europe, Trans Network Balkan, ILGA Europe, and Subversive Front submitted to the European Court of Human Rights joint written comments in X v. Macedonia (Application no. 29683/16) on 28 July 2017.

The case involves a transgender man who was asked to undergo genital surgery as a precondition for having his gender identity recognised albeit no statutory provisions regulating the procedure for recognition of gender identity exist in Macedonia.

Our comments firstly critically assess procedures that make legal gender recognition conditional on medical treatment. Secondly, it presents recent international developments and professional expert opinions on abandoning intrusive medical treatment requirements, de-psychopathologising trans identities and increasing support for the freedom to self-determine one’s gender identity. Thirdly, it provides information regarding the practice of seeking legal gender recognition in Macedonia.