Gay rights = human rights

yellum

Gay rights = human rights

The International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA) is promoting a petition to lend support to a motion which hopes to see a United Nations resolution passed that would explicitly state that sexual orientation should be protected as a human right.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) will, in March, discuss a resolution proposed by Brazil on "human rights and sexual orientation" (E/CN.4/2003/L.92) which claims that sexual diversity is an integral part of Universal Human Rights as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

ILGA wants as many people as possible to make themselves aware of ths issues involved, and to sign a petition in support of the Brazilian Resolution. To that end, they've created the site - http://www.brazilianresolution.com.

claire h

About time. Thanks for posting the link.

Annasopra

**Urgent Action**: (22 January 2004)

--UN Commission on Human Rights: to vote on Resolution on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation--

At last year's regular session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in Geneva in April 2003, the Brazilian delegation - in a groundbreaking move - proposed a Resolution entitled "Human Rights and Sexual Orientation" (E/CN.4/2003/L.92).

The Resolution mentions human rights violations and attacks on fundamental liberties on the grounds of sexual orientation, and calls on Member States to promote and uphold the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. It also asks the UNCHR and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the subject.

The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA, http://www.ilga.org) and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC, http://www.iglhrc.org) are working on this issue, and seek assistance from individuals and national non-governmental organisations.

- What happened in 2003? -

Brazil had the support of the European Union, Canada and Australia. From Latin America, Mexico and Costa Rica were in favor but started to retreat as the Vatican put pressure on them. Islamic Conference countries, particularly Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as others like Zimbabwe and the Vatican fiercely attacked the Resolution.

On the last day of sessions (April 25), a 24-22 vote, with six abstentions, postponed discussion on the Resolution until the 60th (2004) session. The alternative option, defeated by only 2 votes, would have erased the Resolution altogether from the Commission's agenda.

- What we can expect in 2004? -

The Resolution is already on the agenda for discussion, as a result of the vote to postpone. Therefore, unless its opponents succeed in raising some technical issue (as they have already attempted to do), it will be debated and, most likely, voted upon.

Last year, the Brazilian's introduction of the resolution took everybody by surprise. This year, there will be no surprises. The US Christian Right has already started to organize against the Resolution. The Vatican and the Islamic Conference countries are doing the same. With infinitely fewer resources than the above mentioned, an ad-hoc coalition of organizations working on sexual rights has also been building strategies to secure passage of the Resolution.

- Why is it important that the Resolution is passed? -

o It would be the first UN CHR resolution to connect the full range of human rights to sexual orientation, to condemn discrimination on its basis.
o Wherever sexual orientation-based discriminatory legislation is in place, the Resolution could be invoked as evidence that this legislation is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and global trends opposing such discrimination.
o Wherever sexual orientation based murders, torture and arbitrary arrests happen, the Resolution could be invoked to demand a more active role from the States involved to prevent discrimination and violence, protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
o It would strengthen asylum claims based on persecution due to sexual orientation as it strengthens the call to state obligations to protect against such persecution
o As a key building block in global understanding of human rights, it could be invoke to call on the States to end all discrimination based on sexual orientation in economic and social rights (access to health, education, housing).


**Please write** (using the following, or in your own words) to the Department of Foreign Affairs,

- welcoming Ireland's membership of the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Geneva, this March and April;
- noting that Ireland will also still hold the Presidency of the EU for the duration of its membership of the 60th session of the CHR;
- welcoming Ireland's vote in 2003 at the Commission, where it voted against a no action motion on the proposed Resolution on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation;
- urging the Irish government again uphold the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, by voting in favour of this Resolution;
- also urging the Irish government to use its influence to encourage other Member States of the CHR to bring about the adoption of this Resolution on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation, to ensure the vindication of the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Addresses:

Mr. Brian Cowen,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
80 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel.: +353-(0)1-478 0822

Mr. Tom Kitt,
Minister of State with Special Responsibility
for Overseas Development Assistance and Human Rights,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
80 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel.: +353-(0)1-478 0091
Fax: +353-(0)1-298 2460 (Constituency office/clinic)
Fax: +353-(0)1-408 2025 (TD office)

Mr. Dick Roche,
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
80 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel.: +353-(0)1-478 1063
Fax: +353-(0)1 478 4780
Email: dick.roche@oireachtas.ie

(PLEASE NOTE: Letters will receive highest priority over fax, email and telephone correspondence. Therefore, if possible, please write by post.)