(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Commemorating the Trans Day of Remembrance, Greenwich University, on November 20, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gender Interactive Alliance, for the promotion of transgender persons’ education through the provision of fully-funded scholarships by the University.
This measure made Greenwich University the pioneer among other Pakistani universities, to offer free of charge undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education to transgender persons.
To mark this feat and celebrate trans rights, an event was held at the university on the day.
The event was organized to put forth a request to all government and bureaucratic stakeholders as well as civil society and the business community to cultivate dignified employment opportunities for transgender persons. Efforts made thus far by various stakeholders to secure trans rights in Pakistan were also showcased on the occasion.
Ms Bindiya, who is also the Chairperson of the GIA, lauded Greenwich University's step to support transgender persons' right to education and dignified livelihood. She underscored that transgender persons are considered taboo in Pakistani society to this day.
“This exclusion of trans people from the social, political and economic fabric of the country exposes them to physical and psychological abuse besides depriving them of economic means for survival. The dearth of educational opportunities further exacerbates the situation against trans persons,” Ms Bindiya added.
Ms Sara Gill, Pakistan’s first transgender doctor also attended the ceremony and spoke of struggles she faced in her academic and professional career.
"The identity-based discrimination of transgender persons is keeping Pakistan from progressing both as a society and as an economy. We need to rid ourselves of gender-based biases and cultivate opportunities for talent acquisition," she noted.
Addressing the ceremony, Ali Jillani, Head Diplomatic Affairs, Greenwich University, said that the inclusion of transgender persons in educational institutions and will undoubtedly transform and counter societal misconceptions of the community.
During the ceremony members of the GIA also performed an interactive theatre on trans rights. Moreover, the outstanding documentary film, ‘Main Insan Hoon’ (I am a human!/ too), advocating trans rights to education and employment, produced by Greenwich University's media students was shown.
The brilliantly made documentary highlights the exclusion of transgender persons and shows that such exclusion renders trans people inhuman and unworthy of a dignified life.
Appreciating the efforts of Greenwich University and GIA, Chief Guest of the event, Ms Reema Ismail, wife of Governor Sindh, said that "the government was seriously pondering over changing the social fabric of society which included the inclusion of transgender persons and acknowledgment of trans rights.
“Change is around the corner. However, the gradual change, the more sustainable it will be. I am delighted to come across the enthusiasm with which we, as a society, are moving forward,” she observed.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of Greenwich University, Ms Seema Mughal, remarked that Greenwich’s vision of social transformation through education was materializing today as they opened our doors to the trans community.
She vowed to continue support from the transgender community at the University.
"I assure everyone that Greenwich will contribute its due share to Pakistan as a society and economy. The Greenwich family will always ensure its efforts towards the progression of society, our foundation, being education," the Vice Chancellor announced.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates and awards and was followed by the MoU signing ceremony.
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