Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex individuals continue to face torture and ill-treatment in many parts of the world, both in the criminal justice system and in non-penal settings.

As the recently published Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment points out, “LGBTI persons are disproportionately subjected to practices that amount to torture and ill-treatment for not conforming to socially constructed gender expectations. […] Private actors [also] typically inflict torture and ill-treatment on such persons in a climate of impunity as many States fail in their due diligence obligations to combat, prevent and remedy abuses.”

During the 31^st session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), the Anti-Torture Initiative and COC Netherlands have held a side-event to address these issues.

During an hour-long debate, the panelists shared what the UN is doing on this issue and raised awareness on how stigmatization and discrimination against LGBTI persons not only foster intolerance and violence, but also encourage impunity.

Watch the whole footage from the side-event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH06O8xGvBc

Panel speakers:

Juan E. Méndez
UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

Victor Madrigal
Member of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Helen Nolan
UN Programme Officer, ILGA

Yuri Frank
Transgender Program Coordinator of Insight (Ukraine)

Moderation:

Barbara Bernath
Chief of Operations, Association for the Prevention of Torture

More: The joint statement by ILGA, COC Nederland and RFSL during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture