Archive for December, 2008

UN Gen. Assembly Statement Affirms Rights for all

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

 

United Nations

UN Gen. Assembly Statement Affirms Rights for all
First ever statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN General Assembly
19/12/2008

The statement read by Argentina and the counterstatement read by the Syrian Arab Republic that immediately followed can be seen respectively at 2:25:00 and at 2:32:00 in the video archived on the UN website and marked as “18 December 08 General Assembly: 70th and 71st plenary meeting – Morning session”.

We have the honour to make this statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

1 – We reaffirm the principle of universality of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose 60th anniversary is celebrated this year, Article 1 of which proclaims that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”;

2 – We reaffirm that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, as set out in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 2 of the International Covenants on Civil and Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as in article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

3 – We reaffirm the principle of non-discrimination which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity;

4 – We are deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity;

5 – We are also disturbed that violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatisation and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that these practices undermine the integrity and dignity of those subjected to these abuses;

6 – We condemn the human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever they occur, in particular the use of the death penalty on this ground, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest or detention and deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health;

7 – We recall the statement in 2006 before the Human Rights Council by fifty four countries requesting the President of the Council to provide an opportunity, at an appropriate future session of the Council, for discussing these violations;

8 – We commend the attention paid to these issues by special procedures of the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies and encourage them to continue to integrate consideration of human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity within their relevant mandates;

9 – We welcome the adoption of Resolution AG/RES. 2435 (XXXVIII-O/08) on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity” by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States during its 38th session in 3 June 2008;

10 – We call upon all States and relevant international human rights mechanisms to commit to promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity;

11 – We urge States to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention.

12 – We urge States to ensure that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated and perpetrators held accountable and brought to justice;

13 – We urge States to ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders, and remove obstacles which prevent them from carrying out their work on issues of human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.

World

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UN: General Assembly to Address Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Friday, December 12th, 2008
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December 11, 2008

UN: General Assembly to Address 
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

 

 

Statement affirms promise of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

 


For Immediate Release

(New York, December 11, 2008) - As the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the UN General Assembly will hear a statement in mid-December endorsed by more than 50 countries across the globe calling for an end to rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A coalition of international human rights organizations today urged all the world’s nations to support the statement in affirmation of the UDHR’s basic promise: that human rights apply to everyone.

Nations on four continents are coordinating the statement, including: Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Gabon, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. The reading of the statement will be the first time the General Assembly has formally addressed rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“In 1948 the world’s nations set forth the promise of human rights, but six decades later, the promise is unfulfilled for many,” said Linda Baumann of Namibia, a board member of Pan Africa ILGA, a coalition of over 60 African lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups. “The unprecedented African support for this statement sends a message that abuses against LGBT people are unacceptable anywhere, ever.”

The statement is non-binding, and reaffirms existing protections for human rights in international law. It builds on a previous joint statement supported by 54 countries, which Norway delivered at the UN Human Rights Council in 2006.

“Universal means universal, and there are no exceptions,” said Boris Dittrich of the Netherlands, advocacy director of Human Rights Watch’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights program. “The UN must speak forcefully against violence and prejudice, because there is no room for half measures where human rights are concerned.”

The draft statement condemns violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also condemns killings and executions, torture, arbitrary arrest, and deprivation of economic, social, and cultural rights on those grounds.

“Today, dozens of countries still criminalize consensual homosexual conduct, laws that are often relics of colonial rule,” said Grace Poore of Malaysia, who works with the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. “This statement shows a growing global consensus that such abusive laws have outlived their time.”

The statement also builds on a long record of UN action to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. In its 1994 decision in Toonen v. Australia, the UN Human Rights Committee – the body that interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), one of the UN’s core human rights treaties – held that human rights law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since then, the United Nations’ human rights mechanisms have condemned violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life. UN treaty bodies have called on states to end discrimination in law and policy.

Other international bodies have also opposed violence and discrimination against LGBT people, including the Council of Europe and the European Union. In 2008, all 34 member countries of the Organization of American States unanimously approved a declaration affirming that human rights protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Latin American governments are helping lead the way as champions of equality and supporters of this statement,” said Gloria Careaga Perez of Mexico, co-secretary general of ILGA. “Today a global movement supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and those voices will not be denied.”

So far, 55 countries have signed onto the General Assembly statement, including: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. All 27 member states of the European Union are also signatories.

“It is a great achievement that this initiative has made it to the level of the General Assembly,” said Louis-Georges Tin of France, president of the International Committee for IDAHO (International Day against Homophobia), a network of activists and groups campaigning for decriminalization of homosexual conduct. “It shows our common struggles are successful and should be reinforced.”

“This statement has found support from states and civil society in every region of the world,” said Kim Vance of Canada, co-director of ARC International. “In December a simple message will rise from the General Assembly: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is truly universal.”

The coalition of international human rights organizations that issued this statement include:Amnesty International; ARC International; Center for Women’s Global Leadership; COC Netherlands; Global Rights; Human Rights Watch; IDAHO Committee; International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC); International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA); and Public Services International.

For more information, please contact:

In New York for Human Rights Watch, Scott Long (English):
+1-212-216-1297; or +1-646-641-5655; or longs@hrw.org
In London for Amnesty International, Kate Sheill
(English: +44-20-7413-5748; or ksheill@amnesty.org
In Halifax, for ARC International, Kim Vance (English, French):
+1-902-488-6404
In Geneva for ARC International, John Fisher (English, French):
+41-79-508-3968; or arc@arc-international.net
In Amsterdam for COC Netherlands, Bjorn van Roozendall (Dutch, English):
+31-6-22-55-83-00; or bvanroozendaal@coc.nl
In Washington for Global Rights, Stefano Fabeni (English, Italian, Spanish):
+1 202-741-5049; or stefanof@globalrights.org
In New York for IGLHRC, Hossein Alizadeh (English, Persian):
+1-212-430-6016; or halizadeh@iglhrc.org
In Brussels for ILGA, Stephen Barris (English, French, Spanish):
+32-2-502-2471; or stephenbarris@ilga.org; or in New York, +39 33-5-606-7158, or media@ilga.org (December 14-18)

 

 

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The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is a leading human rights organization solely devoted to improving the rights of people around the world who are targeted for imprisonment, abuse or death because of their sexuality, gender identity or HIV/AIDS status. IGLHRC addresses human rights violations by partnering with and supporting activists in countries around the world, monitoring and documenting human rights abuses, engaging offending governments, and educating international human rights officials. A non-profit, non-governmental organization, IGLHRC is based in New York, with offices in Cape Town and Buenos Aires. Visit http://www.iglhrc.org for more information

 

phone: 212-268-8040

 

 The Mission of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is to secure the full enjoyment of human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression and/or HIV status.

 

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International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission | 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 1505 | New York | NY | 10038

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TEAM PILIPINAS loves P.R.I.D.E.

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

TEAM PILIPINAS loves P.R.I.D.E.©

(Pinoys who Respect Rights, Identity, Diversity & Equality)

TEAM PILIPINAS para sa mga Pinoy na Gumagalang sa Karapatan, Pagkakakilanlan, Pagkakaiba-iba at Pagkakapantay-pantay

The Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) Campaign Plan for the 2008 Manila Pride March / Ang Planong-Kampanya ng Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) para sa 2008 Manila Pride March

TEAM PILIPINAS and the 2008 Manila Pride March / Ang TEAM PILIPINAS at ang 2008 Manila Pride March

Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) started in 2002 as a diverse group of Filipino participants to Gay Games VI in Sydney, Australia. The group eventually organized the Philippine delegation to Chicago 2006 Gay Games VII, Montreal 2006 1st World Outgames, 1st International LGBT Human Rights Conference in Montreal, Melbourne 2008 1st Asia Pacific Outgames, and The Straits Games 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. TEAM PILIPINAS is now a registered non-stock non-profit organization that organizes and coordinates the participation of the diverse Filipino sexual orientations and gender identities and the representation of the Philippines in local, regional and international LGBT sporting, cultural and human rights events, such as but not limited to the Manila Pride March, The Straits Games, Asia Pacific Outgames, World Outgames and Gay Games etc. TEAM PILIPINAS works to promote and strengthen human rights, sexual and gender diversity and equality, and peace through sports, culture and recreation in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, and the world. TEAM PILIPINAS membership is open to all human rights and equal rights believing individuals regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, out or not.

TEAM PILIPINAS is currently organizing the participation of Filipinos in the Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames on 25 July to 2 August 2009, the Cologne 2010 Gay Games VIII on 31 July to 7 August 2010, and the 2008 Manila Pride March in Malate, Manila, Philippines on 6 December from 1-8pm.

Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines is organizing the 2008 Manila Pride March. This year’s Pride March pays tribute to Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Loves, Our Selves. This year’s Pride March is particularly significant as it marks TFP’s 10th year and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR60) and with the launch in Manila of the Yogyakarta Principles (www.yogyakartaprinciples.org), an international declaration which affirms sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as fundamental human rights. The route of this year’s march is: Remedios Circle-Remedios Street-A Mabini-Pedro Gil-Maria Orosa Street. The march will be followed by the coronation of Miss Queen Philippines, the official Pride Queen of the 2008 Manila Pride March with a brief cultural program showcasing both LGBT and non-LGBT talents and culminate in a street party along Maria Orosa Street by the Orosa-Nakpil Courtyard. For more information about the March and the Manila Pride Season, check out www.manilapride2008.com.

Ang Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) ay nagsimula noong 2002 bilang isang grupo ng mga kalahok sa Gay Games VI sa Sydney, Australia. Kalaunan, binuo ng gropo ang delegasyon ng Pilipinas para sa Chicago 2006 Gay Games VII, Montreal 2006 1st World Outgames, 1st International LGBT Human Rights Conference sa Montreal, Melbourne 2008 1st Asia Pacific Outgames, at The Straits Games 2008 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ang TEAM PILIPINAS sa ngayon ay isang legal at rehistradong non-stock at non-profit na organisasyon na nagbubuo at nag-aayos sa pakikilahok ng iba’t ibang oryentasyong sekswal at kasariang pagkakakilanlan sa Pilipinas pati ang pangangatawan nito sa lokal, rehiyunal at pang-internasyunal na kaganapan sa palakasan, kultura at karapatang pantao ng mga tomboy, bakla, silahis at transgender tulad ngunit hindi lang ng Manila Pride March, The Straits Games, Asia Pacific Outgames, World Outgames and Gay Games at iba pa. Ang trabaho ng TEAM PILIPINAS ay upang ipakilala at pagtibayin ang mga kultura ng karapatang pantao, sekswal at kasariang pagkakaiba-iba at pagkakapantay-pantay, at kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng palakasan, kultura at kasayahan sa Pilipinas, Timog-Silangang Asya, Asya-Pasipiko at sa buong mundo. Ang kasapian ng TEAM PILIPINAS ay bukas sa lahat ng naniniwala sa pantay ng karapatang pantao anuman ang kanilang oryentasyong sekswal at kasariang pagkakakilanlan, ladlad mo o hindi.

Kasalukuyang inaayos ng TEAM PILIPINAS ang pakikilahok ng mga Pilipino sa Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames sa ika-25 ng Hulyo hanggang ika-2 ng Agosto 2009, sa Cologne 2010 Gay Games VIII sa ika-31 ng Hulyo hanggang ika-7 ng Agosto 2010, at sa 2008 Manila Pride March sa Malate, Maynila sa ika-6 ng Disyembre mula ala-1 ng hapon hanggang alas-8 ng gabi.

Ang Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines ay kasalukuyang nag-aayos ng 2008 Manila Pride March. Sa taong ito, ang Pride March ay nagbibigay pugay sa ating karapatan, ating buhay, ating pag-ibig, ating sarili. Higit na mahalaga ang Pride March ngayong taon sapagkat ito rin ang ika-10 kaarawan ng TFP bilang isang network at ngayong taon rin ang ika-60 anibersaryo ng Pandaigdigan na Pagpapahayag ng mga Karapatan ng Tao o Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR60) pati ng paglulunsad sa Maynila ng Yogyakarta Principles (www.yogyakartaprinciples.org) – isang pang-internasyonal na instrumento na nagtitibay sa oryentasyong sekswal o sexual orientation at kakanyanang pangkasarian o gender identity bilang bahagi ng saligang karapatan ng tao. Ang ruta/dadaan ng parade ngayong tao ay: Remedios Circle-Remedios Street-A Mabini-Pedro Gil-Maria Orosa Street. Ang parade ay susundan ng pagkokorona sa Miss Queen Philippines—ang opisyal ng Pride Queen ng 2008 Manila Pride March, ng isang maikling programang pangkultural na magtatampok sa galing at husay ng mga bakla, tomboy at iba pa, at magtatapos sa isang street party sa Maria Orosa Street tabi ng Orosa-Nakpil Courtyard. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon ukol sa parade at sa Manila Pride Season, puntahan ang www.manilapride2008.com.

The Campaign aims to achieve the following goals / Ang Kampanya ay naglalayong maabot ang mga sumusunod:

- To promote the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to highlight its significance and importance in the lives of Filipinos especially to highly-marginalized sectors like the urban poor, women, youth (especially the out-of-school), elderly, differently-abled, informal sector, labor/factory workers, and peasants; and to mobilize at the Pride March a contingent of diverse Filipino sexual orientations and gender identities from the above-mentioned sectors.

- To increase awareness in the Philippines about the international movements on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights, sports and culture; to promote and invite more Filipino participants to the Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames happening in 25 July to 2 August 2009 in Denmark; and to invite more Filipinos interested in promoting and strengthening human rights, sexual and gender diversity and equality, and peace through sports, culture and recreation to be part of Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS).

- Upang ipakilala ang ika-60 Anibersaryo ng Pandaigdigang Pahayag ng Karapatan ng Tao at maitampok ang kahalagahan nito sa buhay ng mga Pilipino lalu na sa mga lubos na naisasantabing sektor tulad ng mga maralitang lungsod, kababaihan, kabataan (lalu na ang mga wala sa paaralan), matatanda, may-kapansanan, impormal na sector, manggagawa, at pesante; at upang makapagpakilos sa Pride March ng isang delegasyon ng iba’t ibang oryentasyong sekswal at kasariang Pilipino (at di-Pilipino) mula sa mga nasabing sector.

-           Upang itaas ang kamalayan sa Pilipinas ukol sa internasyunal na mga pagkilos sa karapatang pantao, palakasan at kultura para sa mga bakla, tomboy, silahis at transgender; ipakilala at mag-imbita pa ng maraming Pilipinong kalahok sa Copenhagen 2009 World Outgames na gaganapin sa ika-25 ng Hulyo hanggang ika-2 ng Agosto taong 2009 sa Denmark; at upang makapag-imbita pa ng maraming interesadong ipakilala at pagtibayin ang mga kultura ng karapatang pantao, pagkakaiba-iba at pagkakapantay-pantay ng mga oryentasyong sekswal at kasariang pagkakakilanlan, at kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng pagiging bahagi at kasapi ng Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS).

For their kindness and generosity, Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) and the “I love P.R.I.D.E.” (Pinoys who Respect Rights, Identity, Diversity & Equality) Campaign would like to thank the following:

Richard Green (Australia)

Chris Peters (Australia)

Gary Sealey (Canada)

Robert Mizzi (Canada)

Queer Peace International (Canada)

Jonelyn Portugal Amoroto (Philippines)

Nancy Portugal Amoroto (Philippines)

Rowena Caronan (Philippines)

Rich De los Santos (Philippines)

Paula De Vera (Philippines)

La Liga Policy Institute (Philippines)

Lovi and Partners Printing Services (Philippines)

Sam Pascual (Philippines)

Rufina T. Portugal (Philippines)

For monetary and in-kind donations and support, please contact TEAM PILIPINAS at teampilipinas.org@gmail.com or at bruce.amoroto@gmail.com .

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