Athens, November 9, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Subject: «Letter from the GTSA to the Minister of Health, regarding the identification of trans persons due to the new control measures»
The Greek Transgender Support Association (GTSA), is a voluntary non-governmental organization that promotes the rights and freedoms of trans, gender-diverse, intersex and LGBTI persons in general, with this press release informs the Minister about the letter sent to the Minister of Health, Mr. Plevris, regarding the identification of trans persons due to the new control measures.
Specifically, yesterday, November 8, the GTSA sent a letter to the Minister, in order to draw his attention to the verification of the identification of trans persons who have not yet been or are still in the process of changing their legal documents in accordance with the provisions of Law 4491/2017, to implement without any problems and with respect to the personality of trans persons.
In the letter we note that:
[…]The reason we are contacting you is that because this legislation is in force for a few years, because the process of changing documents is judicial and therefore time consuming, and also because many transgender/ trans persons are excluded from the space of work do not have the financial power to bear the costs, and finally, because at present due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, there are many transgender/ trans persons who have not legally change their name and gender on their police IDs, and may have problems identifying them under these new measures.
For this very reason, we would like to draw your attention, especially to those trans persons who have not been able to change their documents to police IDs, that they must show the utmost care and sensitivity, and not to see problems in either identification per se, much more likely in cases of personality abuse, as we have recorded many similar behaviors in the past […]
From May 2018, the Regulation 2016/679 of the European Union, which is more widely known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), came into force in our country. According to the Regulation, all procedures should be designed to collect as little personal data as possible.
We realize that the condition of the pandemic we are experiencing makes this even more difficult. However, the State must provide solutions so that the verification of the identification are achieved with as little personal data as possible, in order to safeguard all our fellow citizens, including trans persons.
The Greek Transgender Support Association, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country, has taken all possible initiatives to support trans, gender diverse, intersex and LGBTI persons in general, as well as persons who work in sex, for their adequate protection.
THE BOARD OF MEMBERS
GREEK TRANSGENDER SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
79 Sygrou Street, 3rd floor, Athens, 11745
Tel. 210.9210697
Office hours: Monday to Friday
09.00-14.00 & 17.00-20.00
http://tgender.gr – http://www.transgender-association.gr/
contact@tgender.gr – transgender.support.association@gmail.com
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