PESHAWAR:Blue Veins, in collaboration with the TransAction Alliance, has formally submitted a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Police Engagement with Transgender Persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. The SOPs were shared with Ms. Anila Naz, AIG Human Rights and Gender Equality, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen respectful, safe, and rights-based interactions between law enforcement officials and members of the transgender community.
The SOPs aim to provide clear operational guidance for police officials when interacting with transgender persons, ensuring that all engagements uphold the principles of dignity, equality, and non-discrimination as guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 and its Implementation Rules, 2021.
The document has been developed through an inclusive and consultative process. A series of focus group discussions were conducted with transgender community members, including community elders and gurus, to document lived experiences, protection concerns, and recommendations for improving institutional responses. Inputs were also gathered from police officials, civil society representatives, and relevant government departments to ensure the SOPs reflect both community perspectives and operational realities.
The proposed SOPs outline procedures to ensure respectful forms of address, proper handling of complaints, non-discriminatory documentation practices, safe search and detention procedures, access to medical care, grievance redressal mechanisms, and the protection of transgender persons during police interactions. They also emphasize the need for gender sensitization and training modules within police academies and training institutions.
Farzana Jan, President of TransAction Alliance, said, “Transgender persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have long faced discrimination, harassment, and barriers when seeking protection from law enforcement. These SOPs are an important step toward ensuring that our community is treated with dignity, respect, and equality under the law. Institutionalizing such guidelines will help build trust between the police and transgender citizens,” she said.
Qamar Naseem, Program Manager at Blue Veins Said “These SOPs are the result of extensive consultation with transgender community members and key stakeholders. They aim to address both the protection needs of transgender persons and the operational realities of policing. By adopting and implementing these guidelines, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police can play a leading role in promoting inclusive and accountable law enforcement,” he stated.
Civil society organizations hope that the adoption of these SOPs will improve access to justice, enhance safety, and strengthen institutional trust between the transgender community and law enforcement agencies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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