The Spanish parliament passed two laws on Thursday that allow days off for menstrual problems and free choice of gender from the age of 16. The bill for a “menstrual leave” unique in Europe was approved with 185 votes in favour, 154 against and three abstentions. Another law that would allow gender reassignment with a simple administrative declaration from the age of 16 had 191 MPs in favour, 60 against and 91 abstaining.
According to the left-wing Spanish government, a taboo must be broken with the regulation of a right to days off for women with severe menstrual pain, which did not yet exist in Europe. “This is a historic day for feminist progress,” Equality Minister Irene Montero of the left-wing party Podemos wrote on Twitter.
law was hotly debated
The Podemos party’s demand for free gender choice for people over the age of 16 has been the subject of heated debate for months. It enables people to have their gender changed on their identity papers with a simple statement from the government – without having to provide a doctor’s certificate, as was previously required.
Until now, a change was only possible for adults. With the new law, the free choice of gender is even open to 14 to 16 year olds if their parents or legal guardians agree, 12 to 14 year olds also need permission from a judge.
“Made a giant step”
According to Montero, the new law “depathologizes” transgender people: “Today we’ve taken a big step” in recognizing “free choice of gender identity,” she said. Spain is now one of the few countries in the world to allow gender self-determination through a simple declaration. In 2014, Denmark became the first country in Europe to grant this right to citizens.
Source: Krone
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