| For a summary of Venezuela’s review at the first cycle please click here. |
26th UPR session
Date of review: 1 November 2016
Date of report adoption: 27 December 2016
Document number: A/HRC/34/6
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SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during Venezuela’s 2nd UPR review |
I. SOGIESC issues/recommendations identified by NGOs
6. [NHRI:] With regard to the protection of vulnerable groups, it highlighted policies and bodies created to protect the rights of children, women, older persons, homeless persons, persons living with HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, and indigenous peoples.
Institutional and human rights infrastructure and policy measures
19. JS29 called for a special unit to be established within the Ombudsman’s Office to defend the human rights of LGBTI persons. EJERCITOEMANCIPADOR recommended the creation of a special prosecutor to try cases of discrimination and hate against LGBTI people.
Equality and non-discrimination
33. According to JS29, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has not taken measures to ensure the social and legal inclusion of LGBTI persons, as was recommended. ROMPELANOR recommended adopting legislation to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and provide for equal marriage. VeneDiver reported discrimination against LGBTI persons in the workplace.
Right to health
90. VeneDiver indicated that LGBTI persons are subjected to psychological abuse in health centres. UNAF stated that gynaecological services are not adapted to the needs of LGBTI persons.
Right to education
94. VeneDiver referred to the harassment and degrading treatment that caused LGBTI persons to drop out of education. UNAF indicated that teachers and educational authorities do not know how to address issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
II. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues from the national report
Institution-building Recommendations 93.16, 93.17, 94.1, 94.2, 94.6, 94.36
32. The Plan takes up the recommendations accepted after the first universal periodic review. The validation process involved 258,096 people and 153 human rights organizations, including organizations representing groups requiring special protection, such as indigenous peoples, persons deprived of their liberty, women, children, persons with disabilities, persons of African descent, young people and the LGBTI population. The whole process was supported by the United Nations system.
Challenges
124. Another major challenge is to take action to protect and guarantee the rights of Venezuelans of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity; action has been taken, but further progress must be made to achieve the hoped-for results.
III. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues by UN agencies
Equality and non-discrimination
20. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that the State prevent all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, and ensure that such discrimination is prohibited.
IV. References to SOGIESC issues during the Working Group review
No references.
V. Conclusions and/or recommendations
Venezuela accepted the following recommendations:
133.104 Intensify its actions in guaranteeing the right to equality and nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression (South Africa);
133.108 Prevent all forms of discrimination, especially discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, ensuring equal treatment particularly in schools, health services and the armed forces (Israel).
Venezuela noted the following recommendations:
133.112 Adopt measures to ensure that people can change their legally recognized gender without sex-reassignment surgery (Israel);
133.113 Ensure respect for and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons through measures such as the decriminalization of homosexual relations in the armed and security forces, the recognition of same-sex couples and the right to change identity for transgender people (Spain).
VI. Further information
You will find all documents relating to Venezuela’s second review at UPR-Info and OHCHR’s websites.