SOGI Statements

Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity have been addressed in various statements, joint statements and a few resolutions in the United Nations and/or regional bodies and organisations. These include:

• Human Rights Council Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, (HRC/RES/17/19) introduced by South Africa, adopted by vote, June 2011

• Joint Statement on Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, delivered by Colombia on behalf of 85 States, UN Human Rights Council, March 2011

• Joint Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, delivered by Argentina on behalf of 66 States, UN General Assembly, December 2008

• Joint statement on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, delivered by Norway on behalf of 54 States, Human Rights Council, December 2006

• Joint Statement on Sexual Orientation & Human Rights, delivered by New Zealand on behalf of 32 States, Commission on Human Rights, March 2005

• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES. 2435 (XXXVIII-O/08), adopted by consensus, June 2008

• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES.  2504 (XXXIX-O/09), adopted by consensus, June 2009

• OAS Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, AG/RES.  2600 (XL-O/10), adopted by consensus, June 2010

• Holy See Statement, UN General Assembly, December 2009

• Joint Statement, delivered by Syria, UN General Assembly, December 2008

• Address by Ms. Navanetham Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the theme of gender identity, sexual orientation and human rights, 63rd session of the General Assembly, New York, December 2008

• Resolution to end all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa, TRES/001/11/09, adopted by the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Banjul, the Gambia, November 2009

• Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, Conclusions of Workshop on the Role of National Human Rights Institutions in the Promotion and Implementation of the Yogyakarta Principles, May 2009

• Recommendation CM/Rec (2010) 5 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to Member States on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, March 2010.