Recalling
The long-standing commitment of humanists to the assertion and protection of the human rights of LGBTI+ people as protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all other instruments
Recognising that
In most countries LGBTI+ persons are subjected to violations of their human rights.
The extra risk faced by LGBTI+ persons in situations of abuse or conflict due to their marginalization
The increased need for support from the governments and institutions to overcome systemic discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee affirms that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights encompasses equality for LGBTI+ persons and that all are equal before the law and are entitled without discrimination to equal protection of the law.
In most countries LGBTI+ persons face discrimination at many levels, including:
- Employment and access to services like education, housing, health, and social security,
- Inequality under criminal and civil law,
- Violence, harassment and other threats to life and health,
- Failure to recognize LGBTI+ relationships and families.
In some countries even where some LGBTI+ rights are respected, there remain problems of intersectional recognition or support, for example faced by older LGBTI+ persons or LGBTI+ ethnic minorities or LGBTI+ persons who are members of religious communities.
Recommends
The United Nations and other international bodies to:
- Condemn and take all possible measures to protects the dignity and worth of the human person and end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
- Investigate patterns of murder and violations of human rights perpetrated against LGBTI+ individuals and groups
- Document the status and situation for LGBTI+ persons and the specific risks and forms of discrimination faced in every country.
National governments to:
- Enact and enforce legislation that protects any citizen from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, including to:
- afford same-sex partnerships equal protection in law with regard to pension, inheritance, taxation, social security, custody and adoption, donor insemination and other services, in which discriminatory policies and practices currently exist.
- revise laws, policies and administrative practices on refugees and migrants to ensure LGBTI+ persons equal treatment with regard to immigration and asylum, including the right not to be returned to a place or situation of persecution.
- Take legal action against any individual or group, including government representatives, who subject LGBTI+ persons to discriminatory violence, including torture and rape.
- Combat ‘social cleansing’ manifesting itself in murder and forced disappearances of male, female and non-binary prostitutes, street children, disabled people and other socially discriminated persons.
- Produce, disseminate and promote educational materials that counter discrimination and provide comprehensive education on LGBTI+ persons and relationships
- Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
- Document the status and situation for LGBTI+ persons and the specific risks and forms of discrimination faced in their country.
- Revise medical definitions of homosexuality in accordance with current World Health Organization guidelines, recognising that same-sex sexuality is no disorder, nor disease, and no reason for forced psycho-medical treatment.
- Ensure that all relevant healthcare materials, campaigns and services provide appropriate information for LGBTI+ persons.
Humanist organisations and other NGOs to:
- Work to endorse, defend and promote the human rights of LGBTI+ persons
- Promote awareness of the barriers and forms of discrimination that LGBTI+ persons face and how to counter these.
- Enact and enforce policies combating discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
General Assembly, Auckland, 2018
Suggested academic reference
'Protection of the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTI+) persons under The Universal Declaration of Human Rights', Humanists International, General Assembly, Auckland, New Zealand, 2018