The law is the result of years of work by Labrys, a group working for LGBT rights in Kyrgyzstan which has existed since 2004.

The law was signed, without objections, by 13 various Ministries of the Kyrgyz Republic. The decree is now on the Prime Minister’s desk awaiting the final signature.

After authoring alternative reports for UN human rights bodies on violence and discrimination facing Kyrgyzstan’s LGBT population, Labrys garnered international attention, which they used to establish an official working group with the Kyrgyz Republic’s Ministry of Health.

The first of its kind, the working group is made up of health officials, medical specialists, psychiatrists, Labrys representatives and people from the transgender community. Their goal is to develop an identity policy that upholds the rights and dignity of transgender people.

Homosexuality is legal, but individuals still risk losing their jobs and becoming disowned by their families. Despite the progress, the rate of violence is still staggering: Labrys’ research shows that one in four LBT interviewees experienced sexual violence and were forced into “curative” sexual situations.

In 2008, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on officials to “halt anti-gay raids,” highlighting an assault on the main office of Labrys. Police searched the premises and read private files without a warrant, interrupting a dinner party with international funders. During an earlier raid on Labrys, police threatened “they would rape everyone inside,” according to HRW.

Source:http://www.care2.com/causes/breakthrough-on-transgender-rights-in-kyrgyzstan.html