C. Principal areas of concern and recommendations

Disadvantaged groups of women

44. The Committee is concerned that, to obtain legal recognition of their gender, transgender women need to undergo a lengthy and burdensome procedure and are required to undergo a psychiatric assessment and compulsory sterilization or surgery.

45. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Lighten the procedural burden for transgender women to obtain legal gender recognition by making the procedure more expeditious, transparent and accessible;

(b) Amend current laws and practices, in particular the law of 10 May 2007 on transsexuality, to abolish the requirements for a psychiatric assessment, sterilization and surgery for transgender women who wish to obtain legal recognition of their gender.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CEDAW-Belgium-2014-eng