APF members focus on sexual orientiation, gender identity
http://www.asiapacificforum.net/news/apf-members-focus-on-sexual-orientiation-gender-identity.html
Discrimination and violence against people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity remains a serious problem in countries across the Asia Pacific, a recent meeting of the region’s national human rights institutions has heard.
Discrimination and violence against people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity remains a serious problem in countries across the Asia Pacific, a recent meeting of the region’s national human rights institutions (NHRIs) has heard.
The workshop was hosted by the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission and co-organised with the Asia Pacific Forum.
Held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 5 – 7 May, it was first regional workshop of its kind, bringing together participants from the national institutions of Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Jordan, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Korea and Thailand.
The goal was to increase understanding and implementation of the Yogyakarta Principles among APF member institutions and to discuss the practical ways they could use their functions and powers to better protect and promote the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
The workshop also featured keynote addresses from Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn (co-chair of the Yogyakarta Experts Group), Professor Michael O’Flaherty (Rapporteur of the Yogyakarta Experts Group) and other leading international figures.
Violations
Participants heard that people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, whether actual or perceived, can face execution or extra-judicial killing, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, unfair trials and, in the case of women, forced pregnancy and forced marriage.
These human rights violations occur at the hands of State officials and authorities and at the hands of non-State actors, often with the actual or implied complicity of State actors and often with impunity.
“While some NHRIs in the region have already done a significant amount of work in this field, for other institutions this was the first occasion they have discussed these issues,” said Pip Dargan, Deputy Director of the APF Secretariat.
“Even though national human rights institutions are at different stages in addressing these issues, there was unanimous agreement about the importance of making use of their common functions, including investigating complaints, reviewing laws and policies, holding national inquiries and public education.”
Outcomes
The workshop strongly deplored “all forms of stereotyping, exclusion, stigmatisation, prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and violence” against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
It recognised that human rights defenders working with, and on behalf of, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people can also face intimidation and violence and require greater protection and promotion of their rights.
The workshop conclusions also identified that “in all countries religious, cultural and moral values and sensitivities may arise in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.”
However, participants affirmed that the expression of religious and other beliefs should not violate the rights and freedoms of others.
To build on the progress made at the meeting, participating NHRIs requested that the APF and its Secretariat:
* ask the Advisory Council of Jurists to review national laws in the countries of APF members, determine if they are consistent with international human rights standards relating to sexual orientation and gender identity and advise what amendments may be required (to be presented at the APF Annual Meeting in 2010)
* facilitate the exchange of information among member institutions on their human rights work in relation to sexual orientation and gender diversity
* assist member institutions to build their knowledge and awareness of human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, through training programs and staff exchanges
* include the Yogyakarta workshop as an agenda item at the APF Annual Meeting in 2010 and invite each APF member institution to provide a report on its activities in relation to human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity at that meeting.