HRC 41 side event: ‘Why renew the mandate of the SOGI IE? Focus on gender identity and human rights”

Organizers:
Asia Pacific Transgender Network; GATE; ILGA World; RFSL – Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Rights; Transgender Europe

Co-sponsors:

Speakers:
Bubbli Malik, CEO Wajood, Pakistan
Phylesha Brown-Acton, Director, F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa
Micah Grzywnowicz, International Advocacy Advisor RFSL
Zhan Chiam, Gender Identity and Expression Programme Coordinator ILGA World

Opening remarks:
Julian Braithwaite, UK mission to the United Nations

Moderator:
Tuisina Ymania Brown, Pacific Human Rights Initiative and ILGA World Co-Secretary General

Gender identity has become a key concept within the international human rights framework. It has been increasingly adopted by Treaty Bodies, Especial Procedures and UN agencies (including, for example, UNAIDS, WHO, UNHCR, etc.). As clearly demonstrated by the Yogyakarta Principles and the Yogyakarta Principles Plus Ten, gender identity issues can be addressed from many different angles – from the right to be recognized before the law to the right to health, from the right to education to the right to water and sanitation.

In spite of the generalized inclusion of gender identity in human rights language, many people around the world are still severely impacted by human rights violations based on their gender identity -in particular, trans and gender diverse people.

This side event will address gender identity issues in the context of the mandate of the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), highlighting advances made since the start of the mandate to date, as well as issues to be addressed in the future – including transphobic violence, socioeconomic justice, legal gender recognition and access to reparations.

Objectives
1. Identify and analyze human rights violations based on gender identity around the world
2. Reflect on the SOGI Independent Expert’s contribution to addressing and eliminating human rights violations based on gender identity
3. Explore next steps in the process of ensuring trans and gender diverse people’s full enjoyment of their human rights, including the future work of the SOGI IE mandate in advancing these rights.