Seven transgender inmates who are embroiled in a legal dispute with the government over allegations of degrading treatment have agreed to try and find an amicable solution before the next court sitting in November.

The decision was taken this morning upon the suggestion of Mr Justice Silvio Meli, who is presiding the civil court case instituted against the Home Affairs Ministry and the Prisons Director.

The inmates are claiming that they were denied the right to live as women after they were confined to the male section of the correctional facility.

Because of this, they suffered intense humiliation, degradation and discrimination and their private life was not respected.

The ministry and the prisons director denied the  claims and insisted that when they had asked the inmates if they wished to be transferred to the female section they had resisted.

The complainants pointed out that it was only after they took the issue to court that things started to improve.

Following a lengthy exchange, both sides this morning acknowledged that some of the initial differences had been ironed out and took the court’s recommendation to make one final attempt to solve the issue around the table.