HRC session 37 (Feb-Mar 2018) - ILGA's engagement


HRC 37 - 37th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, 26 February - 23 March 2018

Download a summary of reports mentioning SOGIESC issues presented during the session.
Here you can also find a compilation of all SOGIESC remarks made during the High-Level Segment of the session.

ILGA's involvement at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC):

In this section:

Statements at the HRC

  • Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming: The promotion and protection of human rights in the light of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism: challenges and opportunities 
  • (2 - joint statement) Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming: The promotion and protection of human rights in the light of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism: challenges and opportunities 
  • Item 4 - General Debate
  • Item 6 - General Debate
  • Item 8 - General Debate
  • Item 10 - General Debate
  • End of session

Side events

Adoption of UPR outcomes

  • Ghana
  • Peru
  • Switzerland
  • Republic of Korea
  • Pakistan

Letters to Member States of the Human Rights Council

  • Joint NGO letter on the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran

Statements at the HRC

ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MAINSTREAMING: THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW MECHANISM: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

 In this statement during the Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming, we share some perspectives from the global LGBTI movements that have utilised the UPR since its inception. Click here to read the full statement or watch the video of the statement being delivered

 

(2- joint statement) ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MAINSTREAMING: THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW MECHANISM: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

In this joint statement, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, together with ILGA and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, call upon States to ensure that persistent inequality, discrimination and violence related to SOGIESC - including those suffered by women, trans and intersex people and youth - are addressed during the 3rd cycle of the UPR. Click here to read the full statement. 

ITEM 4 - GENERAL DEBATE (HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION)

ILGA drew the Council's attention to those places where we see in the wrong direction for the rights of lesbian, gay bisexual, trans and intersex people. Click here to read the full statement, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

ITEM 6 - GENERAL DEBATE (UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW)

In this joint statement, ILGA - together with Amnesty International, COC Nederland, ISHR and UPR-Info - called on the Human Rights Council bureau to create, elaborate and implement a comprehensive policy on the prevention, investigation, prosecution and remediation of reprisals in the UPR and the Human Rights Council. Click here to read the full statement, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below:

ITEM 8 - GENERAL DEBATE (Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration on human rights)

In this statement, ILGA joined several other nongovernmental organizations and social movements in demanding a prompt. impartial and independent investigation on the murder of city councilwoman Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes in Brazil. Click here to read the full statement.

ITEM 10 - GENERAL DEBATE

In this statement, ILGA shared some recent best practices of governments and other entities across the world regarding measures taken to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex persons. Click here to read the full statement, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below:

END OF SESSION

In this statement, ILGA joined other organisations in welcoming the adoption of the resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in reaffirming that all approaches to development must comply with the State’s international human rights obligations. Click here to read the full statement.

 

 

Side events

THE COSTS OF EXCLUSION AND THE VALUE OF INCLUSION

This interactive discussion, convened by the Government of Canada and moderated by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided an opportunity to reflect on how to mitigate the various costs of exclusion as they apply to three UN pillars: human rights, peace and security, and development.
Our UN Programme and Advocacy Officer, Diana Carolina Prado Mosquera, was among the panelists.

Read more here or watch a recording of the event below:

 

CULTURAL RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF

5 March 2018 (9 am CET, room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva)

During this side event, the panel will examine the role of the relationship between religion and state, how it can contribute to fostering an environment that is supportive of the foundational principle of the universality and indivisibility of human rights, and to looking at the understandings and political and social contexts that best promote freedom of religion or belief, cultural rights and diversity for all on an equal basis.

Read more here.


GENDER, DEPATHOLOGIZATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

6 March 2018 (9 am CET, room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva)

During this side event, hosted by ILGA and GATE, the panel will provide detailed account of pathologization as a specific root cause for human rights violations, as proposed in the report Gender is not an illness. How pathologizing trans people violates human rights law , framing this approach in the Yogyakarta Principles and the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10.

Read more here.

 

THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF BISEXUAL PERSONS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

21 March 2018 (10 am CET, room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva)

This event will bring together human rights defenders from Bolivia, Mexico and Serbia to discuss the often-ignored specific challenges and needs of bisexual persons and to pose recommendations to States. Read more here and watch the videos of the event:

Panel discussion

 

Q&A

 

Mesa rodunda (español)

 

Q&A (español)

 

LGBTI RIGHTS IN CAMEROON AND RUSSIA

21 March 2018 (2 pm CET, room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva)

During this side event at the 37th UN Human Rights Council, human rights defenders from Cameroon and the Russian Federation will describe violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in their countries, and will offer suggested recommendations for the upcoming Universal Periodic Reviews.
A side event hosted by Advocates for Human Rights, ILGA, Alternatives Cameroun and the Russian LGBT Network. Read more here

 

 

Adoption of UPR outcomes

During the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, ILGA worked with human rights defenders from various countries to help deliver statements during the UPR adoptions.

GHANA

During the 28th Working Group session, Ghana received 20 SOGIESC recommendations. It supported 3 recommendations and noted 17 recommendations.
Click here to read the ILGA and COC joint statement, made on behalf of Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights Ghana and the LGBT Community in Ghana, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

 

PERU

During the 28th Working Group session, Peru received 20 SOGIESC recommendations. It accepted all 20 recommendations.
Click here to read the statement by Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (PROMSEX-PERÚ), or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

 

SWITZERLAND

During the 28th Working Group session, Switzerland received 12 SOGIESC recommendations. It accepted 4 recommendations and noted 8 recommendations.
Click here to read the statement made by ILGA in consultation with the organization Transgender Network Switzerland, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

 

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

During the 28th Working Group session, the Republic of Korea received 22 SOGIESC recommendations. It noted all 22 recommendations.
Click here to read the statement delivered by ILGA in consultation with Rainbow Action against Sexual Minority Discrimination, or watch the video of the statement being delivered below

 

PAKISTAN

During the 28th Working Group session, Pakistan received 7 SOGIESC recommendations. It accepted 2 of them, and noted 5.
Click here to read the statement on the occasion of the adoption of UPR outcomes of Pakistan.

 

Letters to Member States of the Human Rights Council

In this open letter, ILGA joined 45 other Iranian and international human rights organisations and urged governments to support the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Click here to download the letter.