London, 24 June 2011
On 17 June 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) narrowly adopted a Resolution expressing grave concern about acts of violence and discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. ERT welcomes this Resolution as an important first step by the HRC in the struggle to combat discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons around the world.
The Resolution, the first the HRC has adopted on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, calls on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to commission a global study to document discrimination and violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. A panel discussion informed by this study will take place at the 19th Session of the HRC in 2012.
South Africa was responsible for putting forward the Resolution which was debated during the 17th Session of the HRC. Many States argued against the proposal and the Resolution passed only narrowly, 23-19 with three abstentions. Notably, States from both the African group and Organisation of the Islamic Conference expressed strong opposition. Of the European States, only the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation voted against.
Speaking about the adoption of the Resolution, ERT Executive Director Dimitrina Petrova said:
“We congratulate the HRC for taking this first step to combat global discrimination and violence on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. ERT was involved in the adoption of the 2007 Yogyakarta Principles – an initiative that opened the prospects for an agenda change at the United Nations. But this success must now be sustained. The report and panel discussion, which would result from the Resolution, should lead to concrete steps to implement States’ obligations to reduce discrimination and violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.”
For the text of the Resolution, click here.
For the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, click here.
