According a new report published in The Lancet, though transgender rights received unprecedented recognition in Asia and across the world in 2015, public recognition has yet to translate into a concerted effort to support and improve the health and lives of transgender people.

The report was led by authors from the University of Sheffield (UK), Johns Hopkins University (USA), Curtin University (Australia) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Several members of the transgender community also contributed to the Series, including as authors of the papers.

It was launched at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) 24th Biennial Scientific Symposium in Amsterdam. It was compiled with input from members of the transgender community and provides an assessment of transgender health worldwide.

The global study points to major gaps in our understanding of transgender health. According to the authors, there is a failure to recognize gender diversity in public health efforts, however, it is noted there is enough information about this marginalised group to act now.

Among the proposals are:

– Health care for transgender people, including access to feminising and masculinising hormones, should be funded on the same basis as other health care.

– Physicians should be trained to understand the health needs of transgender people, especially in delivering general health care such as mental and reproductive health.

– Governments worldwide must put an end to gender reparative therapies for children, adolescents and adults, widely condemned as unethical.

– It is imperative that anti-discrimination laws are inclusive of transgender people.

– Schools must be more inclusive of gender diversity and all teachers should be trained to work with, and educate about, transgender people and gender diversity.

“The 2030 Agenda is based on the principle of ‘leaving no-one behind’. Passing protective laws and policies that guarantee gender recognition is essential to the health and well-being of transgender people,” said Magdy Martínez-Solimán, UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. “This groundbreaking Lancet Series on Transgender Health will contribute to the growing body of evidence on addressing the needs of a group that has been excluded in health and development,” he added.