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HRC SESSION 31 (FEBRUARY-MARCH 2016) – ILGA’S ENGAGEMENT

31st session of the UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, 29 February – 24 March 2016
Click here to download a summary of reports presented during the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council

ILGA’s involvement at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC):

Statements at the HRC

  • Annual high-level panel on human rights mainstreaming
  • Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
  • Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on torture
  • Interactive Dialogue on the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria
  • Panel on human rights and HIV
  • Item 4 (Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention) – general debate
  • Item 10 – Technical assistance and capacity building

UPR adoptions

ILGA worked with human rights defenders from Lebanon, Nauru, Australia, Georgia, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis to prepare and help deliver statements during the UPR adoptions at the 31st Human Rights Council, and was involved in delivering statements on

  • Lebanon
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Australia
  • Georgia
  • Myanmar
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

Statements at the HRC

ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON HUMAN RIGHTS MAINSTREAMING

This statement was prepared by Save the Children and other 16 non-governmental organisations (including ILGA), all  welcoming the 2030 Agenda’s ambitious plan of action for “people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership” and the  firm commitment from all States to “leave no one behind.” The organisations call on States to step up to the challenge and implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets in a holistic and integrated manner, with a particular focus on realizing the rights and meeting the needs of the poorest and most marginalized people first.

Click here to read the statement by Associated Country Women of the WorldArigatou InternationalATD Fourth WorldInternational Catholic Child BureauChild Rights ConnectConsortium for Street ChildrenDefence for Children InternationalEurochildFondazione Marista per la Solidarietà InternazionaleInternational Council of Jewish WomenInternational Federation of Social WorkersMouvement Mondial de MèresILGA, Plan InternationalSave the ChildrenTerre des Hommes and the World Council of Churches.

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON ADEQUATE HOUSING

This joint statement by ILGA, Allied Rainbow Communities InternationalFederatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit — COC Nederland and the Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights – RFSL, endorsed by Mulabi, Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Derechos, congratulates the Special Rapporteur for stressing not only that discrimination acts as a cause and a consequence of homelessness, but also that people who face discrimination, such as LGBTI individuals, are more likely to become homeless, and to face different types of intersecting discrimination.

This State calls on States to take all measures necessary to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence, which undermine LGBTI people`s full enjoyment of their human rights, and increase the likelihood of homelessness. It also calls on States to ensure the existence of shelters for homeless LGBTI persons, as well as to regulate and monitor youth shelters to protect and support LGBTI minors.

Watch the video of the statement being delivered below.

 

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE

The joint statement by ILGA, Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit — COC Nederland and the Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights – RFSL welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on torture, drawing attention to the specific instances of torture and inhumane and degrading treatment faced by persons who are perceived to transgress sexual and gender norms. It calls on States not only to take action to prohibit, prevent and redress such torture and ill-treatment, but also to address at a fundamental level – through education and awareness raising – the root causes of these attacks.

Click here to read the full statement (in English and Spanish) or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE FINDINGS OF THE INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SYRIA

The joint statement by Allied Rainbow Communities International, Mantiqitna and ILGA emphasized that, in addition to Daesh and the Jubhat al-Nusra, many other parties are involved in the structural discrimination and violence committed against LGBTIQ populations. It also urges the UNHCR to understand the specificity of the violations that LGBTIQ persons face, and to address them in a sensitive and timely manner, ensuring that their rights are protected.

Click here to read the joint statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered below.

 

PANEL ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HIV

The statement by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, joined by ILGA, Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (HIVOS), International Council of Aids Service Organisation (ICASO), the Canadian HIV/AIDS legal network, Grandmothers Advocacy Network; Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+); International AIDS Society (IAS) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and supported by 52 HIV and human rights organisations, welcomes the Human Rights Council’s acknowledgement that the full realization of human rights is an essential element in the global AIDS response.

It also calls on states to establish quantifiable commitments to eliminate legislation that criminalise people living with or affected by HIV, and to fulfil the rights of treatment and prevention by removing all legal and societal barriers.

Click here to read the joint statement

ITEM 4 (HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COUNCIL’S ATTENTION) – GENERAL DEBATE

This statement calls the Human Rights Council’s attention to the horrific human rights violations continuing unabated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) persons in all regions. It particularly focuses on the deteriorating situation in Indonesia, on the unnecessary medical interventions – carried out without their informed consent – facing intersex people and on the systemic situation of extreme violence and discrimination faced by trans people in Central America.

Read the full statement (in English and Spanish) or watch the video of the statement being delivered below.

 

ITEM 10 – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Under Item 4, ILGA made a statement cataloguing just a few of the many situations around the world where LGBTI persons face a wide range of often-horrific human rights violations. Under Item 10, in the spirit of technical assistance and capacity building, the organisation wishes to share just a few of the many good practices and positive changes that we are happening in all regions.

Read the full statement

UPR report adoptions

During the 31st session, the Human Rights Council adopted the UPR reports for 14 countries including Micronesia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nauru, Rwanda, Nepal, Austria, Australia, Georgia, Saint Lucia, Oman, Myanmar, Saint Kitts and Nevis. ILGA worked with human rights defenders from LebanonNauruAustraliaGeorgia, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis to prepare and help deliver statements during the UPR adoptions at the 31st HRC.  

LEBANON

During the second cycle of the UPR, Lebanon received 5 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted none of these recommendations.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

NAURU

During the second cycle of the UPR, Nauru received 6 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted none of these recommendations.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

MYANMAR

During the second cycle of the UPR, Myanmar received 2 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted none of these recommendations.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

NEPAL

During the second cycle of the UPR, Nepal received 5 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted 3 among these recommendations.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

AUSTRALIA

During the second cycle of the UPR, Australia received 6 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted 1 among these recommendations. ILGA worked with the Human Rights Law Centre – and with Australian NGOs and advocates who work on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex issues – to prepare and deliver an oral statement during the adoption of Australia’s UPR report during the 31st session of the HRC.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

GEORGIA

During the second cycle of the UPR, Georgia received 7 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted 6 among these recommendations.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered:

 

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

During the second cycle of the UPR, Saint Kitts and Nevis received 9 SOGIEI recommendations and accepted none of them.

Click here to read the statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered: