Allama Iqbal Open University launches a programme offering free courses to the transgender community
ISLAMABAD: It is commendable of the Allama Iqbal Open University to launch a programme offering free courses to the transgender community that is openly deprived of its basic rights. Following in the footsteps of AIOU, it is important that the HEC announces implementation of similar programmes in other universities too and make the academic opportunities available to transgender people as those available to all. Efforts for the aligning of the transgender community with other segments of society will give long-term benefits while making them independent and functioning members of society. Now that the data on the transgender community has been included in the national database, they must be given the status equivalent to that of any other citizen. The community has a long history of oppression at the hands of society rooted in the intolerant mindset, and it is about time that their rights be equally respected and valued.
Iqra Uzair
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2017.
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