Beto de Jesus, ILGA representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, encourages the UN Human Rights Council to use the Yogyakarta Principles to frame a future debate on sexual orientation and gender identity

Beto de Jesus, ILGA representative for Latin America and the Caribbean and member of the Board of the Brazilian LGBT Federation (ABGLT) attended the United Nations Human Rights Council at the end of March 2007 during the launch of the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Beto de Jesus also took advantage of his presence at the Human Rights Council to deliver a speech during the Council's plenary. In his statement, Beto de Jesus encouraged the Council to use the Yogyakarta Principles to frame a future debate on sexual orientation and gender identity. Beto de Jesus's speech, which was read by Mauro Cabral, was the second one given in the Human Rights Council in the name of the European region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).

Mr. President, distinguished Council members;

It is my pleasure to speak on behalf of ILGA-Europe and as a member of ABGLT, the Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbian, Bisexuals, Transvestites, and Transsexuals, and as a representative of the International Association of Gays and Lesbians for Latin America (ILGA).

Our organizations have a great deal of respect for this Council and have been following its work for the last four years. Along with other social movements, we want to contribute to the strengthening of this institution.

These past years, we have provided testimonials and participated in a historic process: to keep it short; we have tried to develop within this Council the conditions necessary to allow a debate to take place on sexual orientation and gender identity.

A first step to allow this dialogue is to recognize the discrimination and violence suffered by our collective group. We appreciate the job done by the Special Rapporteurs who include in their reports the abuses suffered by the sexual minorities in many parts of the world.

Another premise is to recognize as legitimate participants in this forum those organizations that represent us. The recent granting of ECOSOC status to three of our groups is already a positive sign. Today I speak as a representative of one of these three groups, ILGA-Europe, the European chapter of the worldwide federation that represents some 500 groups from 90 countries.

We believe that is equally important to frame this debate. In that sense, the Yogyakarta Principles, recently approved by international legislation experts in human rights, propose a solid comprehension of all international rights and its application to sexual orientation and gender identity matters. We invite all members of the Council to consult them, looking forward to an informed debate on these topics.

Although it is surely unnecessary to reaffirm here the existence of homosexuality in all regions of the world and the diversity of ways in which people express their gender as human beings and throughout history, we understand that gender identity and sexual orientation are concepts that result foreign to many people and thus, we believe it is important to explain them briefly.

Sexual orientation is the capacity to relate emotionally, affectively, and sexually with a person of a different sex to oneself or of the same sex. Gender identity refers to the comprehension and experience that each one of us has about his or her gender, independently of his or her biological sex.

It is useful to remember that the debate refers only to consensual affective and sexual relationships between adults.

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Human Rights Council,

We are convinced that all governments here present equally value the wellbeing of all their citizens. Your presence here marks a strong compromise for the creation of a universal system that permits everyone to fully enjoy his or her human rights.

The fight for the respect of every minority has to be everyone’s fight. We believe that the acknowledgement of sexual minorities can contribute to learning how to live together, that is, the learning of democracy.

Thank you very much

Beto de Jesus
ILGA / ABGLT / IEN

Translation: Raul J. Vazquez

Watch Beto de Jesus_s statement read by Mauro Cabral
With English translation
In Spanish

More information on the Principles can be found at www.yogyakartaprinciples.org