English
ItalianoCampaigning for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, Democracy, the Rule of Law and International Justice
UN and LGBTI
United Nations
High Commissioner For Human Rights
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has played a key role in advocating equality and nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Here you will find some of her public statements:
• HC presentation at the panel on violence and criminalization on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, September 2010
• SOGI references in High Commissioner’s Strategic Management Plan, 2010-2011
• HC Statement on Arrests in Malawi, May 2010
• NGO Joint Statement, Interactive Dialogue with HC, March 2010
United Nations Special Procedures mandate engage with issues of human rights relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Special Procedures system is made up of experts, usually titled Special Rapporteurs, assigned to investigate and report on the realization of certain rights around the world, or in specific countries. Over the past decade they have become one of the most effective international instruments for confronting violations of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) people. Amongst other examples they have taken action against killings, violence, deprivation of liberty, denials of the rights of freedom of expression and association, as well as discrimination in access to public services on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Often their independence allows them to shine a light on issues that are otherwise deemed too politically 'sensitive' for discussion at the international level. The Special Procedures have therefore proved themselves to be of considerable value to LGBTI activists.
UN General Assembly
In a powerful victory for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on 18 December 2008, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly supported a groundbreaking statement confirming that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. It was the first time that a statement condemning rights abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people was presented in the General Assembly. Two additional States (the USA and Costa Rica) have subsequently joined the statement, bringing the total number of endorsers to 68
Commission on the Status of Women
A number of other noteworthy sexual rights-related events transpired during the CSW, which ARC’s colleagues helped to convene. The Dutch government hosted a groundbreaking official session on "Human Dignity of Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender women". UNDP and a number of HIV and VAW-focused NGOs hosted a session entitled "Outlawing Women - Effects of Laws Criminalizing Women's Sexuality". Other sexual rights sessions addressed homophobia in schools, female condoms, rights of sex workers and sexuality and development. These popular events offered a welcome alternative to the usual anti-abortion, anti-gay programming of conservative and right wing NGOs, many of which are present at each CSW.*
Through its strategic and collaborative efforts, ARC contributed to momentum built by sexual rights advocates during and since the Beijing Conference years ago. Since the mid 1990s, LGBT activists, along with those focusing on sexual and reproductive rights and women’s health, have persistently used UN spaces to promote awareness about rights and health of "gender-nonconforming" people. The CSW remains an important venue for these efforts, both to carry forward these struggles, but also to counter conservative fundamentalist opposition. ARC remains committed to movement building and leadership development in these arenas, and sees its CSW and Beijing efforts as supporting that mission.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which allows scrutiny of the human rights records of all UN States. The UPR is a valuable tool for challenging and encouraging States to do more to protect the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and intersex people
• The Universal Periodic Review ("UPR") is a mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Under the UPR, the human rights records of all 192 United Nations member States will be reviewed by the Council on an ongoing, regular basis.
• The UPR was set up as part of the reform of the UN human rights system. It was designed to respond to criticisms that consideration of countries' human rights records had become politicized and selective, focusing only on certain countries, while allowing more politically influential States to escape scrutiny.
• As a result, the UPR will ensure that the human rights records of all 192 member States will be regularly reviewed on a 4-year cycle. This means that 48 States will be reviewed per year, 16 at each of three sessions annually.
• The UPR is intended to be a cooperative mechanism, designed to assist States in fulfilling their international commitments and improving their human rights situation.
Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity have been addressed in various statements, joint statements and a few resolutions in the United Nations and/or regional bodies and organizations. These include:
• Joint Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, delivered by Argentina on behalf of 66 States, UN General Assembly, December 2008.
• Joint statement on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, delivered by Norway on behalf of 54 States, Human Rights Council, December 2006.
• Joint Statement on Sexual Orientation & Human Rights, delivered by New Zealand on behalf of 32 States, Commission on Human Rights, March 2005.
• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES. 2435 (XXXVIII-O/08), adopted by consensus, June 2008.
• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES. 2504 (XXXIX-O/09), adopted by consensus, June 2009.
• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES. 2600 (XL-O/10), adopted by consensus, June 2010.
