HRC Session 32 (June-July 2016) - ILGA's engagement


HRC32 - 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, 13 June – 1 July 2016
Click here to download a summary of reports presented during the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council

ILGA's involvement at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC):

Statements at the HRC

  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
  • Item 8 - General Debate (joint statement supported by 601 organisations from 147 countries)
  • Item 8 - General Debate  (joint statement by COC Nederland and ILGA)
  • Item 8 - General Debate (statement by RFSL, joined by ILGA, LGBT Denmark, IHEU, FIDH, LSVD and Human Rights Law Centre)

UPR adoptions

ILGA was involved in delivering the statements during the UPR adoptions at the 32nd Human Rights Council on:

  • Mozambique
  • Denmark
  • Singapore

Side events

  • June 14, 2016: Violence Against LGBTQ Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Detention
  • June 17, 2016: Laws that protect LGBT persons: changes and challenges

Statements at the HRC

ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT OF EVERYONE TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE STANDARD OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

This statement warmly welcomes the thematic and country visit reports presented by the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, commend the Special Rapporteur’s particular focus on the situations of trans and intersex persons.

Click here to read the joint statement by ILGA, COC Nederland and RFSL, drafted in consultation with Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE), interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII Australia), Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII Europe), and Support Initiative for People with congenital Disorders (SIPD) Uganda.

Watch the video of the statement being delivered below


ITEM 8 - GENERAL DEBATE (JOINT STATEMENT SUPPORTED BY 601 ORGANISATIONS FROM 147 COUNTRIES)

This statement, supported by 601 organisations from 147 countries worldwide, calls on the UN Human Rights Council to take meaningful action to end abuses on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and advance positive reforms. It also calls on the Council to create an Independent Expert to address discrimination and violence against persons based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Click here to read the statement by ILGA (joined by ARC International, Article 19, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, COC Nederland, Human Rights Law Centre, Human Rights Watch; International Commission of Jurists, FIDH, IHEU, ISHR; LSVD; RFSL) or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

(a previous version of the statement is available here)

ITEM 8 - GENERAL DEBATE   (JOINT STATEMENT BY COC NEDERLAND AND ILGA)

This joint statement by COC Nederland and ILGA calls on States to support the SOGI resolution aimed at creating an UN Independent Expert to bring greater attention to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also highlights the support the LAC7 States have from 140 NGOs from 29 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Click here to read the statement (in Spanish) or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

(en Español)


(in English)


ITEM 8 - GENERAL DEBATE (STATEMENT BY RFSL, JOINED BY ILGA, LGBT DENMARK, IHEU, FIDH, LSVD AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE)

This statement highlights how "each person’s self-defined gender identity is integral to their personality and is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom", and the extent to which, despite the right to recognition being guaranteed under article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, many States' requirements still "violate a person's dignity, right to form a family and right to be free from degrading and inhumane treatment".

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


UPR report adoptions

During the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council, ILGA worked with human rights defenders from various countries to help deliver statements during the UPR adoptions.

MOZAMBIQUE

During the second cycle of the UPR, Mozambique received 7 SOGIESC recommendations and accepted none.

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


DENMARK

During the second cycle of the UPR, Denmark received 4 SOGIESC recommendations and accepted 2 recommendations (*they partially accepted 2 recommendations).

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


SINGAPORE

During the second cycle of the UPR, Singapore received 13 SOGIESC recommendations and accepted none.

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


Side events

 “Violence Against LGBTQ Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Detention”

To draw attention to the particular forms of violence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) refugees and asylum seekers in places of immigration detention, the International Detention Coalition, in partnership with the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), and the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP) has invited a panel of leading LGBTQ and detention experts to host a side event on “Violence Against LGBTQ Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Detention”.

Click here to find out more

"Laws that protect LGBT persons: changes and challenges"

The purpose of this event was to present some of the legislative changes that have taken place since May 2015 that impact LGBT persons and to highlight some of the hopes and challenges ahead. The event balanced the research behind the ILGA State Sponsored Homophobia report, the lived-realities of LGBT persons in countries from different regions and the international political landscape.

Click here to find out more or watch the full video of this side event below