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News

Human Rights Council Statements 

187 of organisations call on States to protect LGBTI persons’ human rights in the context of COVID-19 outbreak

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ARC International joined a coalition of 187 organisations to draw the attention of the UN Human Rights Council to the situation of LGBTI persons and those who defend their rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
In line with the call to action signed by 96 human rights experts, organisations working for the protection of the human rights of persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) globally have urged States and stakeholders to ensure that this public health emergency will neither exacerbate existing misconceptions, prejudices, inequalities or structural barriers, nor lead to increased violence and discrimination against persons with diverse SOGIESC.

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News 

Departure note

The Board of ARC International has received and accepted Kim Vance-Mubanga’s resignation as Executive Director (effective March 27) with sadness and understanding. We are immensely sad to be losing Kim, our Co-founder in 2003, Co-director from then until 2015, and Executive Director since then. We understand that Kim is now seeking new challenges and new fields in which to apply her enormous skills and we support her fully in that.
Kim’s departure is the most significant event in ARC’s history since its founding, but it will not mean the end of ARC. On the contrary, ARC will continue with new leadership, new visions and new energy. New members have recently joined the board to guide us through transition, and Kim will continue in an advisory capacity to the board to assist with transition. We will see this organisation continuing to make gains in many fields affecting the human rights of LGBTI people.

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International Dialogues Press releases 

Activists from around the world show how international law, domestic litigation, and apology/reparation helped improve gender and sexuality minority rights

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The time has come. Activists, scholars, and human rights defenders from across the world are meeting in Delhi, India, to join the International Dialogue “Rising Through the Challenge: documenting and analysing best practices for advancing human rights related to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) using the tools of international law, domestic litigation, and apology/reparation”. 
Around 70 participants from different regions have come to Delhi to share organizational experiences that have helped advance the rights of gender and sexuality minorities.

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General Assembly Press releases 

No Challenge in UN Third Committee on the Renewal of Independent Expert on SOGI

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The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution presenting the Annual Report of the Human Rights Council today without challenge to the extension of the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI).
In 2016 when the mandate was created, an amendment challenging it was tabled at  the Third Committee. This year, a record-high number of States supported the renewal of the mandate at the Human Rights Council in July, and the mandate was not challenged in the Third Committee. This is a clear indication that the international community is becoming both more aware and less tolerant of violence and discrimination on the basis of SOGI.

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Publications Special Procedures 

A report on the #RenewIESOGI process is here

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In July 2019, our communities won a historic victory with the successful renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity: a new report by ARC International, ILGA World and ISHR explains how the process played out. Reading these pages will allow you to follow the steps in the process that led the Human Rights Council to #RenewIESOGI. Human rights defenders around the world advocated for the adoption of the resolution.
In the end, 27 States voted in favour of the renewal of the mandate with 52 States from every region of the world co-sponsoring the resolution. These record-high numbers signal a shift: it is reassuring to witness that the international community is becoming both more aware and less tolerant of violence and discrimination on the basis of SOGI!

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