Principle 17 is a collective of activists from the Netherlands, that promotes customized trans* health care. Health care if you need it, when you need it, as you need. We call ourselves to Yogyakarta Principle 17, which describes the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

Unfortunately, this right is not (yet) self-evident for many trans health care recipients. Not even in the Netherlands. Principle 17 is convinced that transgender people, health care providers and policy makers are too often unaware of these human rights. Principle 17 was set up based on this belief, with the aim of improving this situation.

Yogyakarta Principle 17

The Yogyakarta Principles of 2006 are about the application of international human rights on issues concerning gender identity and sexual orientation. These rights are, for example, privacy, participation in public life, work and education.

Yogyakarta Principle 17 concerns the right to the highest attainable standard of health:

“Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual and reproductive health is a fundamental aspect of this right.”

Principle 18 concerns the right to freedom from unnecessary medical intervention or overtreatment:

“No one shall be forced to undergo any medical or psychological treatment, procedure or test or be confined in a medical facility on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Notwithstanding any other classification, a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity are not, in themselves, conditions and therefore should not be treated, groomed or suppressed.”