Interesting article on Pakistan's "third gender". This community of transsexuals and hermaphrodites is known as "khusra" in Pakistan. Transgender people often view themselves as women born in a man's body, or vice versa. However, in Pakistan and other south Asian countries, they view themselves as neither sex -- a third sex. This community is fighting for recognition and rights. A lawyer filed a petition at the Supreme Court in 2009 in an attempt to stop discrimination against khusra in employment, health care, housing, and other rights. The hearings by the court over the past year has been bringing attention to their cause and could help bring them into the mainstream. The court suggested that authorities consider adding a third gender option to state-issued identity cards (which is a big step for conservative Pakistan). The proposal was inspired by India, whose election commission ruled last year that transgender people could register to vote as "other" instead of male or female. The Supreme Court of Pakistan also ruled, in an attempt to tackle police harassment, that authorities must send them copies of the case files of any khusra arrested. Moreover, the court issued orders to guarantee khusra free health care and their right to inheritance, which is sometimes denied to them by families who have rejected them. The court will hold more hearings, and they have asked provincial governments to provide progress reports on what steps they are taking to improve the khusra's situation.
Those in the khusra community say that since the Supreme Court took notice of their cause their situation has improved, but that members of the community still face harassment and violence. (Full Story)
Costa Rica has elected their first female president, Laura Chinchilla. (Full Story)
Australia is planning a change to their immigration policies. With the current system, Australia has a list of 106 skills in demand and that helps to determine permanent residency. However, the immigration minister said the current trend is for new arrivals to take culinary or hairdressing courses to gain residency. He explained, "We had tens of thousand of students studying cookery and accounting and hairdressing because that was on the list and that got them through to permanent residency. We want to make sure we're getting high-end applications." The plan is to get rid of the list of 106 skills in demand and instead use a points test to assess migrants. The immigration minister said they're especially looking for health workers, engineers, and miners. Australia's mining industry is struggling to find staff as major firms expand to meet China's growing demand for raw materials.
The new rules will also favor applicants who already have job offers over those who merely have qualifications or who are studying. This is expected to cause a big decrease in enrollment at Australian universities by foreign students hoping to settle in the country. Previously (starting in 2001), students were able to apply for permanent residency while studying. The new rules will cost the education sector, which takes in $12 billion a year from foreign student fees.
The immigration minister said that all "lower-skilled" applications submitted before September 1, 2007, when English language skills and work experience requirements were easier, would have their applications withdrawn and application fees refunded (which is worth a total of $12.15 million USD). Wow, Australia. That is cold. They have to remember that it takes all kinds to run a country. (Full Story)
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