OREANDA-NEWS. The Dutch authorities have simplified the procedure for changing the sex on the birth certificate: now even children under 16 can change the sex without the need for a doctor or psychologist's opinion.

According to the government's announcement: “Individuals whose gender identity does not match the sex determined at birth may under certain conditions change their gender on the birth certificate. These conditions were relaxed back in 2014 with the adoption of the transgender law, and now after the assessment of the law the procedure has been simplified even further. "

As explained in the Cabinet, this week the country's Minister of Legal Defense Sander Dekker presented a legislative amendment to the lower house, which, among other things, abolishes the age restrictions for this procedure and the need to obtain an expert opinion.

The Dutch government said: "First of all, an expert opinion is canceled, in which a doctor or psychologist determines whether a person is sufficiently convinced of the opposite sex. According to health care providers, this cannot be determined, and associations, including the Dutch organization for gender diversity, consider it a violation of the right to self-determination of the individual. "

Instead, the procedure is divided into two stages: a written statement of the desire to change the gender and confirmation of this intention after four to twelve weeks.

The removal of age restrictions means that children under the age of 16 can also change their gender. To do this, it will be enough to go to court.