United Nations: Landmark Meeting Denounces Rights Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
Holy See Condemns Criminalization of Homosexual Conduct
(New York, December 11) - A United Nations General Assembly panel that met this week broke new ground and helped build new momentum for
ending human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a coalition of sponsoring nongovernmental organizations said today.
The meeting included discussion of discriminatory and draconian "anti-homosexuality" legislation currently before the Ugandan parliament,
and of the role of American religious groups in promoting repression across Africa. In a groundbreaking move, a representative of the Holy See in the
audience read a statement strongly condemning the criminalization of homosexual conduct.
The panel, held yesterday on the 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, featured speakers from
Honduras, India, the Philippines, and Zambia, as well as Uganda, where the proposed "anti-homosexuality law" shows the steady threat of government repression.
Sweden organized the panel in coalition with Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. It was sponsored by a
group of six nongovernmental organizations that defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The audience of 200
people included delegates from over 50 nations.
Ugandan lawmakers are currently debating the "anti-homosexuality" bill. While there were reports that the death-penalty provisions
might be stripped from the bill, other punishments would remain that would drive many Ugandans underground or out of the country, participants said.
Speaking on the panel, Victor Mukasa, co-founder of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and program associate for the International
Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLRHC), described how he was forced to leave Uganda following police brutality and raids on his home.
He said that Uganda's "anti-homosexuality" bill reflects a pattern of state-sponsored homophobia spreading across the African continent.
"Lack of security, arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence, and killings of LGBT people have become the order of the day in
Africa," said Mukasa. "Nothing can change as long as LGBT people live in fear for their safety when they claim their basic human rights."
The statement from the Holy See said it "opposes all forms of violence and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons,
including discriminatory penal legislation which undermines the inherent dignity of the human person..[T]he murder and abuse of homosexual
persons are to be confronted on all levels, especially when such violence is perpetrated by the State."
Also at the panel discussion, the Reverend Kapya Kaoma, an Anglican priest from Zambia who is project director for Political
Research Associates (PRA) in Massachusetts, presented the group's new report, Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African
Churches, and Homophobia.
Kaoma said that many anti-LGBT attitudes across Africa are fueled by US groups actively exporting homophobia. He called on
US religious figures who have been promoting hatred and fear of homosexuality in Africa to denounce the Uganda bill unequivocally, and
support the human rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Citing their moral responsibility to
prevent violence, he also urged them to make such declarations in Africa, not just before US audiences.
Other panelists highlighted governments' complicity in prejudice and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Indyra Mendoza Aguilar, coordinator of the Lésbica Feminista Cattrachas network in Honduras said that an atmosphere of impunity
since the June coup in Honduras has meant spreading violence against already marginalized people.
"In Honduras, as in many countries, the state turns a blind eye to violence against our communities," said Mendoza Aguilar.
"Today we issue a call for reforming our societies, free of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, free of impunity."
Vivek Divan, an Indian attorney and member of the team that led a successful legal challenge to India's colonial-era sodomy
law, described the provision's insidious effects, promoting inequality, excusing violence, and permitting state intrusion into private lives.
The Delhi High Court overturned the law this year in a landmark decision affirming diversity as a core value of the Indian state.
Speakers also stressed how torture, killings, and other grave abuses target people not just because of their sexualities,
but because they look, dress, or act in ways that defy deeply rooted patriarchal norms for expressing masculinity and femininity.
"Now is the time to realize that diversity does not diminish our humanity," said Sass Sasot, co-founder of the Society of
Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP). "You want to be born, to live, and die with dignity - so do we! You want to live with authenticity - so do we!"
Contacts:
International Gay
and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) in New York:
Sara Perle (English, Italian)
+1-212-430-6015
sperle@iglhrc.org
Human Rights Watch :
Scott Long (English)
+1 (212) 216 1297 (office), +1 (646) 641 5655 (mobile)
Global Advocates for Trans Equality:
Justus Eisfeld (English, Dutch)
+1-646-341-1699
justus.eisfeld@globaltransadvocates.org
COC Netherlands :
Björn van Roozendaal (English, Dutch)
+31-619-123-2257 (mobile)
Arc International :
John Fisher (English, French, Spanish)
+41-22-733-4705
view a video of the panel in English, please visit:
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/specialevents/2009/se091210pm2.rm
For Spanish, please visit:
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/specialevents/2009/se091210pm2-orig.rm
The sponsoring organizations were:
Arc International
COC Netherlands
Global Advocates for Trans Equality (GATE)
Human Rights Watch
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association (ILGA)
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Contacts:IGLHRC: Sara Perle, +1-212-430-6015
HRW: Scott Long, +1-212-216-1297
Global Advocates for Trans Equality: Justus Eisfeld, +1-646-341-1699
Arc International: John Fisher, +41-22-733-4705
COC Netherlands: Björn van Roozendaal, + 31-20-623-4596
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
Reproduced with permission - "INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IGLHRC)"
INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IGLHRC)
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