HRC session 47 (June - July 2021) - ILGA World's engagement

 

HRC 47 - 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, 21 June to 15 July 2021
ILGA World's involvement at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC)

 

 

Reports:

In this section:

Statements at the Human Rights Council

  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on health
  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on SOGI
  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on SOGI
  • Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with Working Group on discrimination against women

Side events

  • An epidemic of violence: defending the lives of transgender women
  • Feminist and LGBTI movements: uniting is our strenght
  • Rights at risk: time for action

Adoption of UPR outcomes

  • Nepal
  • Austria
  • Georgia

 

Statements at the Human Rights Council 

 

ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON ADEQUATE HOUSING

During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, we expressed our concern about the discrimination LGBTI people face in accessing housing.
Click here to read the statement.

 

ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HEALTH

In this joint statement - delivered with ILGA-Europe, we highlighted the "need for intersectional policies and projects addressing inequalities in health sector based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics, together with other grounds - notably, gender."
Click here to read the statement.

 

ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY (SOGI)

During the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council, we highlighted how protecting LGBT persons from any kind of violence and discrimination is part of obligations enshrined in international human rights law. We also welcomed the initiatives of States coming together to create the Group of Friends of the SOGI mandate.
Click here to read the statement.



ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY (SOGI)

During the 47th UN Human Rights Council, at the dialogue with the Independent Expert on SOGI, we highlighted how - thanks to years feminist activism and UN institutional changes, we not only recognise that women’s rights are human rights, but we contextualize gender as a social construct. "Trans and lesbian women have been contributing to feminism from the very beginning, and LGBT movement in all parts of the world have feminist and women’s organisations as the most consistent allies."
Click here to read our statement.


ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH WORKING GROUP ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

In this statement, prepared in consultation with MozaiQ LGBT Association and with inputs from Identity, we welcomed the Working Group’s thematic report on women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights in crisis. We called on the WG to mention lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer (LBTIQ) women and persons explicitly as "their sexual and reproductive health rights are affected by crises disproportionately."
Click here to read our statement.


ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

During the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Melania Geymonat delivered the ILGA World statement: “We call on all states to recognise hatred against LBTI women as an aggravating circumstance for rape and other crimes, and to ensure adequate investigation, due process and punishment for so-called ‘corrective rape’ and other forms of sexual violence against LBTI women.”
Click here to read the statement (in Spanish).


ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY/ 1

During the 47th UN Human Rights Council, we highlighted how gender-based breaches of privacy deny individuals the ability to exercise a human right, and they are discriminatory in nature.
Click here to read the statement.


 


ITEM 3 - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY/ 2

During the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Privacy, we called on States to develop and secure a universally agreed and internationally binding multilateral consensus on privacy in different fields that protects the right to privacy of all people regardless of any factors, including gender and sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
Click here to read the statement.



ITEM 3 - ANNUAL DISCUSSION ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES

During the annual discussion on women's rights at the 47th UN Human Rights Council, we called on States to support civil society groups working on the intersections of gender, disability, and sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
Click here to read the statement.


Side events

  • An epidemic of violence: defending the lives of transgender women
    Date: Wednesday 23 June 2021
    Time: 15.00 - 16.30 PM CEST

    This event took place in the context of the 5th Trans Advocacy Week at the 47th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to give a global overview of the epidemic of violence faced by transgender women. Panelists shed light on how anti-transgender stigma, denial of opportunity, and intersecting vulnerabilities compound to create a culture of violence targeting transgender women. During the event, the ways we can directly make our societies safer places for transgender persons were highlighted.

    Follow this link to learn more

  • Feminist and LGBTI movements: uniting is our strenght
    Date: Wednesday 7 July 2021
    Time: 2.00 - 3.30 PM CEST

    The fight for LGBTIQ+ human rights and the fight to advance gender equality are inextricably linked. And yet, anti-trans violence and hate increase day by day and trans, and non-binary people have been targeted specifically by both anti-rights and anti-gender actors that seek to revert gender equality gains. Building on the momentum, States, and organisations are co-hosting a global, diverse, cross-regional event. This occasion brings together women and LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders to speak to the challenges and opportunities created by the crises we face today, and to share reflections on the importance of inclusive and intersectional feminist LGBTI mobilisation.

    Follow this link to learn more.

  • Rights at risk: time for action
    
Date: Tuesday 13 July 2021
    Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM CEST
     
    This dialogue among UN and civil society panelists will allow to hear more about how nationalist and fundamentalist trends worldwide are concretely manifesting as a backlash against rights related to gender and sexuality in human rights systems. We will highlight the new Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) Trends Report, Rights at Risk: Time for Action as a tool for action, and explore strategic opportunities that civil society, UN mandate holders, and States can leverage to stem the anti-rights tide within the UN.

    Click here to register

    The event will be in English with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and French. Closed captioning will be available in English. This event is co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN in Geneva, the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs), the Center for Reproductive Rights, ILGA World, the International Service for Human Rights, and International Planned Parenthood Federation.
     

Adoption of UPR outcomes


NEPAL 

During the adoption of UPR outcomes of Nepal, we welcomed the Government's acceptance of recommendations to end sexual and gender-based harassment and violence at all levels of society, including against LGBTI persons. However, we regretted that Nepal's government noted recommendations concerning marriage equality rights of LGBTIQ people.

Click here to read our statement, drafted in consultation with Blue Diamond Society and Mitini Nepal.


AUSTRIA 

During the adoption of UPR outcomes or Austria, we thanked all the States that made 11 recommendations to the Austrian government with respect to the human rights of LGBTI people in the country. "In June 2021, the Austrian Parliament has unanimously adopted a resolution that requests the government to effectively protect intersex children from nonconsensual and not necessary treatments. We urge Austria to take further steps to promptly implement these measures".

Click here to read our statement.


GEORGIA 

"We are deeply alarmed by the situation regarding human rights of LGBTI persons in Georgia", we said during the adoption of UPR outcomes of Georgia - where the country accepted 22 recommendations on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, and sex characteristics.  "During the past several days when the Pride in Tbilisi was due to take place, there have been reports of violence, damage of property, and a general fear of the community members installed throughout the country. Together with several Georgian LGBTI community organisations, we urge the Government of Georgia to address these hate crimes in an adequate manner, conduct proper and thorough investigations, and hold those responsible to account".
 
Click here to read our joint statement together with ILGA-Europe, drafted in consultation with Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group.