| For a summary of Haiti’s review at the first cycle please click here. |
26th UPR session
Date of review: 7 November 2016
Date of report adoption: 20 December 2016
Document number: A/HRC/34/14
|
SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during Haiti’s 2nd UPR review |
I. SOGIESC issues/recommendations identified by NGOs
Equality and non-discrimination
26. JS7 condemned the fact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons were subjected to discrimination and stigmatization by the public. Despite this, the State had done nothing to protect LGBTI rights. Negative social attitudes, poverty and the importance of religion in society exacerbated the violence and discrimination faced by LGBTI persons. JS7 found it regrettable that most of the presidential candidates in 2015 had spoken out against homosexuality and equality of marriage rights.
27. JS1 noted that members of the LGBTI community were forced to live in secrecy and isolation, due to fear of violence and discrimination. LGBTI organizations had documented physical attacks committed on the basis of a victim’s gender nonconforming demeanour and reported numerous incidents of police discrimination leading to arbitrary arrests and violence.
28. AI recommended that Haiti investigate all acts of violence motivated by discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and bring those responsible to justice; carry out training for State agents on how to handle such cases; and implement human rights education and anti-discrimination awareness-raising programs in collaboration with LGBTI rights organizations.
Right to life, liberty and security of the person
40. JS16 noted that instability in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake had exacerbated vulnerabilities of women and LGBT persons and incited further sexual violence. JS1 stated that the Government had failed to prevent and investigate sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls and that the failure to bring perpetrators to justice implicitly condoned such violence.
II. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues from the national report
No references.
III. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues by UN agencies
Equality and non-discrimination
23. The United Nations country team noted that, although Haiti had no law discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, certain acts of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex persons had neither been punished by the courts nor condemned by the authorities. Judicial abuse had been reported against homosexual men who had engaged in consensual sexual relations. The Human Rights Committee recommended that Haiti launch a national awareness campaign, addressing first the forces of law and order and judicial personnel and later the general public, to combat stereotypes based on sexual identity.
IV. References to SOGIESC issues during the Working Group review
No references.
V. Conclusions and/or recommendations
Haiti accepted the following recommendations:
115.71 Investigate and sanction the acts of violence and discrimination committed on the ground of sexual orientation (Uruguay).
Haiti noted the following recommendations:
117.26 Take measures to combat norms, practices and stereotypes that cause discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity (Colombia).
VI. Further information
You will find all documents relating to Haiti’s second review at UPR-Info and OHCHR’s websites.