ADVANCING EQUALITY | APRIL 2018

During these past two months, the criminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual activity was ruled unconstitutional in Trinidad and Tobago. Commonwealth leaders were urged to embrace equality, and the UK Prime Minister expressed “deep regret” for discriminatory colonial-era laws.

Transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. communities in Brazil welcomed landmark court rulings, and Sweden decided to pay compensation to transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. people who were forcibly sterilised.

Communities in China successfully mobilised to end a discriminatory ban of ‘homosexual’ content on a social media platform. Gatherings of intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. communities in Costa Rica, South Africa and Australia resulted in historic statements and reports, and Portugal voted to better protect the rights of transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. and intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. people.

New Zealand passed a law to wipe historical convictions for same-sex activity; forced anal examinations were ruled unlawful in Kenya. More of these good practices and news were shared with the UN Human Rights Council, too.

We know all too well that our communities’ struggle to be recognised and accepted has never come without challenges. But we are not alone. And, despite the setbacks and alarming news, there are reasons for hope.

FROM THE UNITED NATIONSan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility.

Throughout these past months, ILGA continued to work at the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility., mobilising support for SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. issues globally.

We were present at the 37th Human Rights Council in full force – delivering statements, hosting side events, joining panel discussions, and assisting human rights defenders as they made their remarks during the adoption of their countries’ UPR outcomes.

ILGA was in New York to attend the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women as part of the LBTI and Women’s Rights Caucuses – making interventions at high level segments, organising and speaking at parallel events, coordinating to bring defenders to CSW62, working on the Agreed Conclusions text, and much more.

We also saw the adoption of a new general comment on Equality and non-discrimination by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, after we had partnered with organisations worldwide to submit our views on the issue.

Promising times await as we are gearing up for the 30th session of the UPR Working Group, and for the upcoming 70th session of CEDAW, as well as for the June 2018 session of the Council. Stay tuned!

DATES AND DEADLINES

Have you got a few spare minutes?

ILGA is collecting good practices of implementation/follow-up activities from organisations on the ground, after obtaining SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. recommendations from

• Universal Periodic Review
  take the survey in English | en español, deadline: May 7
  
• Treaty Bodies
  read the call in English | en español | em português | на русском

Share your experiences with us!

ON THE BOOKSHELVES

A historic event took place during the 37th UN Human Rights Councilan inter-governmental body within the United Nations which has the responsibility to promote and protect human rights. It is comprised of 47 member States, each elected to 3-year terms by the 193 member States of the United Nations.: ILGA and Manodiversa hosted a side event raising awareness of the human rights situation of bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. persons. We recorded it for you: in case you missed it, you can watch it in English below, or in Spanish here.

Our Bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. Secretariat also launched a document looking at both the global and regional situation for the bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. community: download it here.

To further inform you on SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. developments at the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility., we also began producing reports and infographics for each Treaty Bodies session that we will engage in. Here you can find highlights from six CEDAW, CRC and CRPD sessions and pre-sessional working groups.

TO LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE

Board members got together with staff at the ILGA headquarters in Geneva
(ph. J. Andrew Baker)

Our Executive Board met in Switzerland in March 2018. New members were welcomed to our family, new roadmaps for the future months were outlined. And, also, a new Executive Director was appointed: André du Plessis has now stepped into the role!

We also welcomed a new intern to the team: Bernardo Fico has joined us to support our UN Programme on Treaty Bodies and Special Proceduresindependent human rights experts within the UN Human Rights Council with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are non-paid and elected for 3-year mandates that can be re-conducted for another three years. Special procedures can undertake country visits, and act on individual cases of reported violations by sending communications to States and others. They also engage in advocacy, raise public awareness, provide advice for technical cooperation, and contribute to the development of international human rights standards.
for the next few months. In the next few days, Nachale Boonyapisomparn (Hua, as people know her) will join ILGA as the Gender Identity and Gender Expression Programme Intern.

Among all this news, however, one thing remained unchanged: our commitment to raise our members’ voices in international fora.

On the occasion of World Health Day, ILGA joined organisations worldwide calling upon world leaders to move towards Universal Health Coverage.

We were there – represented by our Gender Identityrefers to a person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. and Gender Expressionrefers to how a person presents their gender through physical appearance – including dress, hairstyles, accessories, cosmetics – and mannerisms, speech, behavioural patterns, names and personal references. Senior Programme Officer, Zhan Chiam – as governments forming the Equal Rights Coalition met in Washington DC.

We continued to assist and train dozens of activists leaning on the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility. to advance their rights: we presented our work on transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. human rights at the Kyiv Trans Conference, and welcomed seven defenders to Geneva for a week of advocacy around the Universal Periodic Review.

Defenders from Nepal, Chile, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, El Salvador and South Korea were supported as they engaged with CEDAW, CESCR and the Human Rights Committee, following our pledge to help raise awareness of lesbianadjective/noun to describe a woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. and bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. women’s human rights with the Treaty Bodies.

But that’s not all: we teamed up with Global Philanthropy Project and Funders for LGBTQ Issues for a one-hour webinar on May 14, where you will learn more about a new report looking into government and philanthropic support for LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. communities.

With both Pan Africa ILGA and ILGA Oceania gearing up for their regional conferences, and ILGA Asia organising a training in South Korea on human rights advocacy and UN mechanisms, it is fair to say that there are exciting times ahead for our global family!

Meanwhile, the ILGA family has further grown in numbers and representation: 1,321 organisations from 141 countries across the globe now form this organisation committed to advance LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. rights worldwide.

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Help us support LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. communities and organizations around the world through advocacy, education and research.

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