The World Health Organization (WHO) Departments of Gender, Rights and Equity (GRE), Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes (HHS), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) are in the process of developing a guideline on the health of trans and gender diverse people, specifically adults.
A Guideline Development Group (GDG) has been established in line with standard procedures and the proposed composition of the GDG and related biographies were posted on the WHO website for general feedback on 28 June and 18 December 2023.
WHO received a wide-ranging set of feedback from communities and stakeholders and appreciates the engagement seen to date. Acknowledging the need for more time for feedback, WHO is extending the deadline for submissions until 2 February 2024. All comments should be sent to [email protected].
The guideline under development aims to address specific health challenges that negatively impact the rights of trans and gender diverse people to access quality health services, undermining their quality of life and life expectancy.
The scope of the guideline was based on requests of some WHO Member States and on the outcomes of a stakeholder consultation held in May 2022 with experts in transgender health and representatives from the affected communities from all WHO regions. The proposed guideline is guided by WHO’s vision of a world in which all people attain the highest possible level of health and well-being, leaving no one behind.
This new guideline will focus on 5 areas: provision of gender-affirming care, including hormones relating to adults; health worker education on and training for the provision of gender-inclusive care; provision of health care for trans and gender diverse people who have suffered interpersonal violence, based on their needs; health policies that support gender-inclusive care; and legal recognition of self-determined gender identity for adults.
The GDG members include researchers with relevant technical expertise; end-users (e.g. programme managers and health workers); and representatives of trans and gender diverse community organizations, among others.
The members come from all six WHO regions, will act in their individual capacity (not representing any organization with which they are affiliated), and will not receive any financial compensation as per standard procedures.
Following the completion of the extended public feedback period, the final list of GDG members is expected to be announced and the group will begin its work. The overall process for development of the guideline could take up to 2 years, with further opportunities for external expert review and comments.
