BULLETIN ON UN SPECIAL PROCEDURES AND SOGIESC – NOVEMBER 2017

In this issue, we introduce a new section on useful contacts for defenders wishing to engage with 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.
More. The section includes information on organisations and activists who could provide support in 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. More defenders’ engagement with Special Procedures mandate holders. We would be happy to add your contacts to the list. In that light, please do let us know if you are coordinating or facilitating such engagement.

This issue includes details of reports that have been presented by Special Procedures at the Third Committee of the 72^nd session of the General Assemblythe main deliberative and policy-making organ of the United Nations which makes decisions on international issues such as development and peace and security. All 193 member States are represented, and each has one vote. More in New York (September-December 2017); four open calls for civil society input to Special Procedures, two events organised by Special procedures mandate holders and the updated list of upcoming country visitsmissions carried out by UN Special Procedure mandate holders to assess the situation of human rights in a specific country. During their missions, they will meet with national and local authorities, national human rights institutions, as well as with NGOs, civil society, and survivors of human rights violations. Findings, conclusions and recommendations of such missions are published in reports to the Human Rights Council. More. It also includes details of the appointments of Special Procedures at the 36^th (September 2017) and 37^th (March 2018) HRC, as well as the latest on the appointment of the new Independent Expert on SOGIabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity More. Finally, you will also find the latest statements by mandate holders on LGBTI issues; and a list of resources for advocacy with Special Procedures mechanisms.

We especially highlight the following:

• Reports to the General Assembly, including the second report of the SOGI Independent Expert, as well as ^NEW! four new SOGIESC-inclusive reports by both thematic and country mandates;
• Calls for inputs on the upcoming report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on content regulation in the digital age;
• The following upcoming country visits by mandate holders: Serbia (Special Rapporteur on torture, November 2017), Mexico (Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, November-December 2017), Chad (Working Group on discriminationunequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds - such as age, ethnic background, disability, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions or sex characteristics, amongst others. More against women, December 2017), United States (Special Rapporteur on poverty, December 2017), ^NEW! Spain (Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly, December 2017), Bahamas (Special Rapporteur on violence against women, December 2017), ^NEW! Mongolia (Special Rapporteur on water and sanitation, April 2018), ^NEW! Ghana (Special Rapporteur on poverty, April 2018), and ^NEW! Canada (Special Rapporteur on health, second half of 2018).
• Recently appointed mandate holders, including four members of the Working Group on discrimination against women, as well as ^NEW! the latest news on the Independent Expert on SOGI appointment process;
• ^NEW! Three recent statements made by Special Procedures mandate holders, including with regard to the Independent Expert’s report to the General Assembly; and
• ILGA and ISHR’s updated and amended factsheets on the Working Group on discrimination against women, and on the Special Rapporteur on violence against women.

We look forward to working with you as you engage with this useful part of the UN system!

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the November 2017 issue of the
Bulletin on UN Special Procedures and Sexual Orientationrefers to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to - and intimate and sexual relations with - individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender. More, 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. More & Expression, and Sex Characteristicsa term that refers to physical features relating to sex - including genitalia and other sexual and reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary physical features emerging from puberty. More (SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. More)

Kseniya Kirichenko,
UN Programme Officer (Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures), ILGA
[email protected]