>> Transgender activist wins battle to change name from Andrew to Audrey on school certificates
Une transgenre kényane a remporté une victoire judiciaire marquante mardi, un tribunal kényan ayant ordonné à l’administration nationale chargée des examens de changer son nom sur ses documents scolaires.
“Je n’ai jamais eu autant d’espoir qu’aujourd’hui”, a estimé Audrey Mbugua Ithibu, qui gère une ONG de défense des transgenres, forte d’une soixantaine de membres.
Audrey Mbugua Ithibu, née Andrew, s’était tournée vers la justice en 2010 pour obliger le Conseil national des examens à changer mon nom sur mes certificats scolaires, ainsi qu’à retirer les indications de genre. Le tribunal a finalement ordonné à Audrey de lui fournir de nouveaux certificats portant son nouveau nom et sans mention de genre. “J’espère que la société va nous accueillir en son sein. Nous ne voulons pas aller devant la justice pour faire valoir nos droits. Nous ne demandons aucun droit spécial”, a-t-elle ajouté.
“Je n’ai jamais eu autant d’espoir qu’aujourd’hui”, a estimé Audrey Mbugua Ithibu, qui gère une ONG de défense des transgenres, forte d’une soixantaine de membres.
>> A transgender woman won a legal battle to have her new identity reflected on her examination certificates.
Audrey Mbugua Ithibu, born Andrew Mbugua, won the battle courtesy of a court order by High Court Judge Weldon Korir on Tuesday.
Justice Korir ordered the Kenya National Examination Council to issue Ithibu new certificates in the next 45 days.
“These are the orders that will make the applicant (Ithibu) complete as a human being. The applicant has satisfied this court that the orders should be issued. An order of mandamus is therefore issued to compel KNEC to recall the applicant’s KCSE certificate issued in the name of Andrew Mbugua and replace the said certificate with one in the name of Audrey Mbugua Ithibu,” Justice Korir said granting the order sought by Ithibu.
Ithibu had filed a case challenging the refusal by the examination council to change her certificate.
The new certificate will however not bear the gender mark meaning it identifies Ithibu as neither male nor female.
“The court takes judicial notice of the fact that examinations in this country are not administered based on the gender of the candidate. Marks are also not awarded based on gender. Removal of the gender mark will therefore not dilute the quality of the certificate,” said Justice Korir.
He also noted that human dignity is an intangible element which makes human beings complete and goes to the heart of human identity.
“Every human being has a value. Human dignity can be violated through humiliation, degradation or dehumanization. Each individual has inherent dignity which our constitution protects. Human dignity is the cornerstone of the other human rights enshrined in the constitution,” he said.
The decision is likely to encourage people with similar problems who have not gone to court for various reasons.
The star avec l’AFP
