Good practices with respect to SOGI Rights

The essence of human rights work is to draw attention to the violations, which have been committed and thereby trigger action from state authorities. However it is also possible to draw attention to good practices and generate positive public opinion around such practices. It is in this sense that item 10 which is for ‘technical assistance and capacity building’ was used to put forward positive practices with respect to SOGI issues by ILGA.

International Lesbian and Gay Association, said that it wished to share just a few of the many good practices and positive changes that we are seeing in all regions. In Cambodia, the Ministry of Information is working with LGBT rights groups to create a regular radio program that discusses LGBT issues, with the aim of making society more welcoming. In Bolivia, the government is backing a new video campaign to increase respect for elderly LGBT people, who are considered to be among Bolivian society’s most discriminated groups. In Costa Rica, a project called Caja de Herramientas has been launched to promote awareness and share good practices about the inclusion of LGBTI persons in the workforce. ILGA also welcomed the landmark ruling in Botswana, where the Court of Appeal upheld the right to freedom of expression and association in the case of the NGO ‘Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana’ (LEGABIBO) instructing the relevant government department to register them. Similarly the court decision in Tunisia in February ruling that a local NGO working on LGBT issues could resume normal activities is welcomed. There has been progress in the Seychelles where the cabinet of ministers recently proposed to the national assembly to repeal the law criminalizing same sex sexual activity and the Norwegian Ministry of Health has published a proposal that would allow individuals to self determine their gender without having to undergo any compulsory requirements like sterilization.

Introduction

High Level Segment

Special rapporteur on Torture

Intersectionalities of Oppression: SOGI Issues in the Work of the Special Procedures

-Special rapporteur on the right to Adequate Housing

-Special rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

-Special rapporteurs on Peaceful Assembly and Association and on Extra Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions

-Special rapporteur on Freedom of Religion

-Special rapporteur on Cultural Rights

The Protection of the Family

The Human Rights Situation in Specific Countries

-Commission of Inquiry on Syria