Regional Consultation on Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Transgender and Intersex Persons
Event description
Guided by the fundamental principles of universality, equality and non-discrimination, Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reaffirms that all human beings are entitled to enjoy their rights, freedoms, and all other civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without distinction of any kind. States are obligated to exercise due diligence and take necessary measures to protect, prevent, investigate, punish and redress acts of violence, (direct and indirect) discrimination against all people, including on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). However, in many countries around the world as well as in the region of South East Asia, states do not provide adequate protection and redress for abuses and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex persons (LGBTI).
Discrimination because of real or perceived sexual orientation and non-conforming gender identify and gender expression intersect and overlap with other forms of discrimination that women face and are intrinsically linked to broader issues of gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment. In several countries, UN Women has started working on these intersecting issues and promoting and protecting the LBTI rights through its work. At the regional level, UN Women supports a regional campaign called Unzip the Lips, a campaign -for and by- key HIV affected women and girls (female sex workers, women living with HIV, female drug users, migrant women and transgender persons) to foster a common platform for galvanizing advocacy efforts and facilitate their participation in important regional and international human rights processes and events including in 2014 at the Beijing Plus 20+ review meeting to position the rights and issues facing transgender persons and other women from marginalized communities. UN Women would like to build on these activities and identify strategic opportunity and entry points for mainstreaming issues and concerns of lesbians, bisexual women, transgender and intersex persons into its programmatic and normative work, taking into account the Beijing Platform for Action and other agreed commitments including the SDGs.
The Regional Consultation recognizes and builds on the work in advancing the rights and the well-being of LGBTI people, reducing inequality based on sexual orientation and gender identity and supporting inclusive development in the region including UNDP, Being LGBT in Asia Initiative, UN Free and Equal Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality, etc. In partnership with OutRight Action International, a two-day regional consultation on promoting and protecting the rights of lesbians, bisexual women, transgender and intersex persons will be held. The consultation aims to provide an overview of human rights standards and norms protecting rights of lesbians, bisexual women, transgender and intersex persons; identify key issues and barriers facing LBTI persons in SEA including issues related to discrimination, rights violations, lack of access to justice and redress,, as well as culture and social marginalization; discuss the role of and explore opportunities for strengthening partnerships with national human rights institutions, ASEAN bodies, community/religious leaders, law enforcement officials, UN Women and other relevant stakeholders in protecting the human rights of LBTI persons and ending stigma and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; and facilitate learning and sharing of good practices in the region on addressing, protecting and promoting human rights of LBTI persons.
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