On the 28th June 2016, the Human Rights Council of the UN adopted a historic resolution on « Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity » and appointed an independent expert on the subject.
This resolution builds upon two previous resolutions (2011; 2014) and condemns violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It was adopted by 23 countries in favour, 18 against and 6 abstentions*. The task of the independent expert is to assess the implementation of the current existing human rights protecting LGBTI people, identify the best practices and the gaps in terms of protection, raise awareness and address the roots causes of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The expert will also engage dialogue and work with States and other relevant stakeholders to implement protective measures and should help and support the work of national human rights organisations. Furthermore, this expert is appointed for three years and will report annually on the situation of LGBTI rights around the world.
The Co-President of the LGBTI Intergroup, Ulrike Lunacek reacted: “This is a truly historic resolution. The Human Rights Council has taken a fundamental step forward by reaffirming one of the United Nations’ key principles—that everyone is equal in dignity and rights. At the same time it acknowledges that LGBT people across the world continue suffer from (state-sponsored) discrimination and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe that the independent expert can play a key role in addressing this.”
This text was presented jointly by a core group of seven Latin America countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Uruguay – and 41 additional countries. It is the result of a major campaign of 628 NGO’s from 151 countries calling on the Council to adopt the resolution and appoint an independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. Latin American organisations played an important role in building a common course to address this issue.
This resolution is a boost for the work of LGBTI organisations all around the world. As Alain Kra of Espace Confiance points out “to have an Independent Expert can be a real ‘game-changer’ in counter-acting violence” and should ease the work of human rights defender.
The resolution states the universal nature of international human rights although some questionable amendments were brought to the text with reference to cultural relativism. Sadly, this reminds us of the hesitant Council conclusions on LGBTI Equality (22th June 2016). Indeed, in this document – the first of the Council to address LGBTI equality – the Commission is required to promote measures of the List of actions to advance LGBTI Equality. However, it states that in its actions it should “fully respect… Member States’ national identities and constitutional tradition”. These arguments are often set forth to prevent taking significant action to promote LGBTI equality and legitimizes homophobic and transphobic behaviours. Tradition cannot justify discrimination and violence based on one’s sexual orientation and gender identity.
The EU law on protection from violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
The Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation and the article 19 TFEU allows the EU to take action against discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation. However, gender identity is not explicitly recognized as a ground for discrimination and is not mentioned in any Treaty. Nonetheless, four Directives mention “gender identity”, “gender reassignment” and “gender expression” in order to protect trans and gender non-conforming people against discrimination in four areas:
As the 2015 Eurobarometer reminds us, there is still a lot that needs to be done to achieve LGBTI equality: 60% of European citizens observe discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Gender should not be understood as a mutually exclusive variable that is either feminine or masculine, gender equality strategies should encompass transgender and homosexual issues because sexism, homophobia and transphobia stem from the same discriminative mechanisms. Hopefully, the UN Resolution will pave the way for further political engagement and action to protect the fundamental rights of LGBTI people.
Elisa Neufkens
* Voting results
Voting in favor of the resolution :
Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Macedonia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK, Venezuela, Viet Nam
Voting against the resolution :
Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, China, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Togo, United Arab Emirates
Abstaining on the resolution :
Botswana, Ghana, India, Namibia, Philippines, South Africa
For further information:
(EN) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/06/16-epsco-conclusions-lgbti-equality/
(EN) http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20220&LangID=E
(EN) http://ilga.org/united-nations-makes-history-sexual-orientation-gender-identity/
(EN) https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/G16/135/00/PDF/G1613500.pdf?OpenElement
Statement ILGA http://ilga.org/628-ngos-sogi-independent-expert/
http://ilga.org/downloads/HRC32_Global_Call_SOGI_Independent_Expert.pdf
Fayiz Ahmad Yahia Suleiman, âgé de 41 ans et né en Arabie saoudite, était détenu sans procès à Guantanamo depuis 14 ans. Son transfèrement avait été autorisé en 2010.Après ce transfèrement, il ne reste plus que 78 prisonniers à Guantanamo, dont 28 considérés par l’administration comme transférables.Washington remercie l’Italie pour son « geste humanitaire » et sa volonté de soutenir les initiatives américaines visant à fermer la prison de Guantanmo, ajoute le Pentagone dans un communiqué, précisant s’être assuré que ce transfèrement respectait les normes internationales en vigueur.
L’administration Obama cherche à trouver d’ici la fin du mandat du président, en janvier prochain, un pays d’accueil pour les prisonniers dont elle a autorisé le transfert.
Il ne resterait plus alors que 50 détenus jugés non libérables dans le camp de prisonniers dont Barack Obama avait promis la fermeture.
Parmi ces 28 détenus transférables, 21 sont yéménites, ce qui complique la tâche de l’administration américaine car elle ne veut pas les renvoyer dans leur pays d’origine, en plein chaos.
L’administration Obama est aussi embarrassée par la disparition d’un ancien détenu de Guantanamo assigné à résidence en Uruguay, qui alimente les peurs que les prisonniers libérés du camp de prisonniers reprennent les armes contre les Etats-Unis.Jihad Diyab, un Syrien de 44 ans transféré de Guantanamo en Uruguay a quitté le pays il y a quelques semaines, franchissant la frontière avec le Brésil en évitant les contrôles. Il est depuis introuvable.
Selon les statistiques de l’administration américaine, environ 13% des prisonniers libérés depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir de Barack Obama ont repris ou sont soupçonnés d’avoir repris le combat. Ils étaient 35% sous l’administration Bush.
L’envoyé spécial du Pentagone pour la fermeture de Guantanamo, Paul Lewis, a indiqué jeudi que 14 anciens prisonniers avaient participé à des attaques ayant tué des Américains après leur libération. Informations qui ne font rien pour favoriser d’autres libérations
Eulogos qui a publié beaucoup d’articles sur Guantanamo (cf. pour en savoir plus) est peut-être entrain de publier le dernier article sous la présidence de Barack Obama. Une solution de fond n’a pu être trouvée et les comptes (sinistres) de Guantanamo n’ont pas été soldés. Remarquons que six années se sont écoulées entre l’autorisation et le moment où elle est devenue effective !
Pour en savoir plus : principales sources d’informations