Amnesty International today welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling to recognise transgenders or eunuchs as the third category of gender and said it should provide impetus for the next government to repeal the law which criminalises unnatural sex.
In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court recognised transgenders or eunuchs as the third category of gender and directed the Centre and states to grant them all facilities including voters ID, passport and driving licence.
"A millions lives would improve thanks to the Supreme Court's recognition of transgender people's human rights... This ruling has the potential to significantly alter the lives of people who have suffered oppression for years," Amnesty International, India, said in a statement.
The rights group said the judgement "reaffirms constitutional values of inclusion and equality but as long as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code stays on the books, discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity will remain a threat."
"With elections ongoing, today's ruling should provide the impetus for a new government to repeal this absurd law," it said.
