paroolOct 8, 2026, 06:05

Report: old transgender law led to deep human suffering

A historical study commissioned by the Dutch government reveals that the country's former transgender law caused profound human suffering by forcing individuals to undergo irreversible sterilization and unwanted procedures to change their legal gender. Advocates are now calling on lawmakers to learn from these human rights violations and support updated legislative efforts to protect the rights of transgender and intersex citizens.

A new report from Radboud University, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, has detailed the significant human suffering caused by the former Dutch transgender law. By examining historical records and conducting 28 in-depth interviews, researchers found that the previous legislation imposed strict, damaging requirements on those seeking to change their legal gender registration. These included forced sterilization and the requirement to be unmarried, which often forced individuals to undergo life-altering surgeries against their wishes or dissolve their marriages to obtain valid identification documents.

Researchers and advocates highlight that these state-mandated practices violated human rights and resulted in long-term psychological, physical, and social trauma for many individuals. Following the release of the report, Transgender Netwerk chair Remke Verdegem has urged politicians to learn from this history and support current legislative updates. While the state previously issued formal apologies in 2021, the findings emphasize the lasting impact of policies driven by outdated social views and the fear of hypothetical misuse.

Politics Culture Health Netherlands

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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