United nations: human rights and sexual orientation

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

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A RESOLUTION ON "HUMAN RIGHTS AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION", INTRODUCED BY BRAZIL WILL BE VOTED ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23.

ENCOURAGE YOUR GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT IT!

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On Wednesday, April 23, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in its 59th Session in Geneva will vote on a resolution "Human Rights and Sexual Orientation" that has been introduced by Brazil with support among other countries from the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. This is the first such resolution in UN history and as such a historic opportunity to advance LGBT issues in international human rights law.

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Please contact your government's Foreign Affairs Ministry TODAY and encourage them to vote in favor of the Resolution. It is important that your government knows that there are individuals and organizations aware of the upcoming vote and watchful for its results.

You will find below a Model Letter. It is very broad, to be
applicable to as many countries as possible. If your country has already passed anti-discriminatory (and/or partnership and/or hate crimes) legislation that explicitly mentions sexual orientation, please refer to it in your letters.

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On Wednesday, April 23, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in its 59th Session in Geneva will vote on a resolution "Human Rights and Sexual Orientation" that has been introduced by Brazil. The Resolution is aimed at acknowledging discrimination based on sexual orientation and protecting those affected by it.

We would like to see our country among those who vote in favor of this Resolution. By doing so, we will be positioning ourselves among those who are true to those values that form the core of international human
rights legislation: dignity and justice for all human beings, without discrimination whatsoever.

We will be following the vote in Geneva. Let us hope that it becomes and opportunity for us to feel proud of our country.

(Name, address, organization)

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Draft Resolution "Human Rights and Sexual Orientation"

Introduced by Brazil

The Commission on Human Rights,

PP1 - Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

PP2 - Recalling that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

PP3 - Reaffirming that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of all rights and freedoms set forth therein without distinction of any kind,

PP4 -Affirming that human rights education is a key to changing attitudes and behavior and to promoting respect for diversity in society,

OP1 - Expresses deep concern at the occurrence of violations of human rights all over the world against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation;

OP2 - Stresses that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, that the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question and that the enjoyment of such rights and freedoms should not be hindered in any way on the grounds of sexual orientation;

OP3- Calls upon all States to promote and protect the human right of all persons regardless of their sexual orientation;

OP4- Notes the attention given to human rights violations on grounds of sexual orientation by the special procedures in their reports to the CHR, as well as the treaty monitoring bodies, and encourages all special procedures of the CHR, within their mandates, to give due attention to the subject;

OP5 - Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to pay due attention to violations of human rights on the grounds of sexual orientation;

OP6 - Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its sixtieth session under the same agenda item.

Note: If you have questions about the resolution you can also contact Jan Doerfel (IRCSM@gmx.ch) with the International Research Center on Social Minorities (ICRSM), who is in Geneva and has been following the resolution closely.

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The mission of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is to secure the full enjoyment of the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression, and/or HIV status. A US-based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), IGLHRC effects this mission through advocacy, documentation, coalition building, public education, and technical assistance.

arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)