Trans Human Rights Advocacy - Strategies around the World
12 February 2025
In February 2025, the Economic and Social Rights unit of the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) hosted a seminar exploring strategies for trans rights advocacy around the world.
In the context of widespread backlash on gender equality and the rise of anti-gender movements, trans communities globally face increased threats, including violence, criminalisation of their identities, and discriminatory practices surrounding employment, family rights, access to public services, healthcare and education. It has never been more important to focus on advocacy efforts aimed at securing the human rights of trans persons. Against this backdrop, this event brought together a range of expert speakers to explore key challenges, opportunities, and strategies in terms of advancing the human rights of trans people around the world.
The seminar was chaired by Aoife Nolan, Professor of International Human Rights Law / Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the University of Nottingham.
You can watch a recording of the event here:
About the Speakers
Levan Berianidze
Levan Berianidze (they/them) is a queer feminist activist from the Republic of Georgia. Levan has vast experience in LGBTQI and feminist movements in the Eurasia region, which spans over nine years. As an executive director at Equality Movement, Levan managed to evolve the organization into the largest and the most influential LGBTQI organization in the Caucasian region over a period of four years. As part of their activism, Levan has won strategic cases in the European Court of Human Rights and the Georgian Constitutional Court, organized the largest and the first-ever LGBTQI public demonstrations (IDAHOT) in Tbilisi; organized an international campaign with HRC and AllOut, and pushed the Georgian government to establish a human rights department within the police forces; and organized a series of queer events – HOROOM – one of the most important safe spaces for mobilization, education, and empowerment of the LGBTQI community in Georgia.
Mauro Cabral Grinspan
Mauro Cabral Grinspan (he/him) is an advocate and researcher on bodily diversity issues, including those faced by intersex, trans, and fat people. He co-founded GATE in 2009, serving as Executive Director until 2022. Between 2011 and 2019, Mauro coordinated the International Initiative on Trans Depathologisation in the International Classification of Diseases. He participated in the elaboration of the Yogyakarta Principles in 2006, and in the drafting of the Yogyakarta Principles Plus 10 in 2017; he is a signatory of both. Between 2022 and 2024 he worked with the Global Philanthropy Project on resourcing trans and intersex movements, and mobilising philanthropic responses to anti-gender movements. Mauro contributed to the drafting and passing of the Argentine Gender Identity Law and co-authored the Argentine Bill on the Comprehensive Protection on Sex Characteristics. He currently leads the initiative on intersex depathologisation at Interaction for Health and Human Rights, and serves as a scientific collaborator at the Free University of Brussels.
Donnchadh Greene
Donnchadh (he/him) is a public law barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. His work focuses on human rights, community care and anti-discrimination. He has acted in a number of strategic litigation challenges on behalf of individuals and NGOs and has appeared before the Court of Appeal as junior counsel in cases concerning children’s rights and discrimination law. Donnchadh regularly advises individuals and NGOs in cases concerning trans rights, including on access to single-sex spaces, challenges to government policy and securing education for trans children.
Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana
Chitsanupong "Best" Nithiwana (she/her) is a human rights defender for LGBTIQ+ rights in Thailand. She started as a public information assistant consultant at the UN headquarters. She is also the founder and executive director of the Young Pride Foundation (Young Pride Club). This safe learning community and organization, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, provides on-the-ground activities and online content to develop leadership and participation in gender equality advocacy. Young Pride Club was also the main organizer of Chiang Mai Pride and Youth Pride Thailand, the country's first pride organized by LGBTIQ+ youth for LGBTIQ+ youth, and Eldery Pride Thailand.