IGLHRC Calls for Global Mobilization to Help Pass the UN Resolution on Sexual
Orientation and Human Rights
The
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC),
February 2, 2004
Contact:
Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director: tel: (212) 216-1256 email: pettelbrick@iglhrc.org
Susana Fried, Program Director: tel: (212) 216-1281, email: sfried@iglhrc.org
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
(IGLHRC), along with a global coalition of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), today issued a call to LGBT organizations and allies around the world
to mobilize in support of the UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution on
Sexual Orientation and Human Rights. This landmark resolution is the first one
in the history of the United Nations that specifically, and unambiguously,
spells out that abuses on the basis of sexual orientation are human rights
violations. It recognizes the existence of sexual-orientation based
discrimination around the world; affirms that such discrimination contravenes
what has been established in major human rights instruments; and calls all
governments to promote and protect the human rights of people, regardless of
their sexual orientation. IGLHRC today called for its allies to join it in
mobilizing support for the passage of this resolution which will be considered
at the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (March
15-April 25 in Geneva, Switzerland).
Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC’s Executive Director said,
“This resolution would be the first United Nations Commission on Human
Rights resolution to connect the full range of human rights to sexual
orientation, and to condemn discrimination on its basis.” According to
IGLHRC, the impact of passing this resolution is significant to show that
sexual orientation-based discriminatory legislation is contrary to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to global trends that increasingly
call for condemnation of such discrimination and abuse.
Last year, in April 2003, the Brazilian delegation to the
Commission introduced this historic—and unexpected—resolution. After
prolonged debate, the Commission voted to postpone further discussion on the
resolution to the 2004 Commission session. As a result, this coming March, 53
nations will sit in Geneva to publicly declare if they believe that all people
should be protected from discrimination, persecution and violence—whatever
their sexual orientation. IGLHRC, along with a coalition of NGOs is now
working to support Brazil and other friendly governments to secure passage of
this groundbreaking resolution. Key countries to target in this mobilization
effort include South Africa, India, Costa Rica and the United States.
According to Susana Fried, IGLHRC Program Director, the
resolution is “a key building block in the global understanding of human
rights. It could be invoked to call on States to end all discrimination based
on sexual orientation in economic and social rights, such as access to health,
education and housing.” The resolution would also encourage governments to
take a more active role to prevent discrimination and violence based on sexual
orientation such as murder, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention. It
would help to ensure the protection of victims and help bring perpetrators of
violence against sexual minorities to justice. The Resolution on Sexual
Orientation and Human Rights would provide activists with another tool to hold
states accountable to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of LGBT
people.
For more information on the resolution and on how you can
help mobilize support for its passage, please see the Action Kit on our
website at www.iglhrc.org under
Publications/ Fact Sheets: here (http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/content.php?type=
1&id=109).
IGLHRC has also posted a list of contact information for
the 53 governments that are current members of the UN Commission on Human
Rights, available at www.iglhrc.org under Publications/ Fact Sheets: here (http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/content.php?type=1&id=108).
Further information is also available at the
International Lesbian and Gay Association’s website at http://www.ilga.org.
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