On 15 December 2011, the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released its first global report on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The report provides a worldwide overview of the broad range of discrimination and hate-motivated violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity and highlights recommendations to tackle these human rights abuses.
Statement by Niccolo Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice:
“No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) welcome the release of the first ever United Nations Global Report on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, which details the dramatic record of homophobic and transphobic violence in every region of the world. This violence ranges from murder, torture, hate-motivated violence, arbitrary deprivation of liberty and criminalisation to discrimination in jobs, health care and education.
“This new report is an important stand in support of all vulnerable people around the world who suffer from constant threats, harassment and discrimination based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It should also be considered as a relevant tool to spur the commitment of UN Member States to abide to their obligations under international human rights law by putting an end to this pattern of human rights violations.
“NPWJ and the NRPTT call on all UN member States to enforce the recommendations highlighted in the report, aiming at tackling these human rights abuses that so far have been too often overlooked. In particular, they should repeal laws that criminalise sexual orientation, enact appropriate comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and ensure accountability for all serious human rights violations perpetrated against LGBTI people.
“NPWJ and the NRPTT also congratulate all international civil society organisations and LGBTI human rights activists whose daily advocacy efforts enabled the OHCHR finally to address this increasingly glaring gap in the universal respect for fundamental human rights.”
For further information, please contact Nicola Giovannini (NPWJ), email: ngiovannini@npwj.org , phone: +32 2 548 39 15.
Check also the website: http://www.npwj.org
