This is a joint statement on ‘LGBTI rights defenders: The international legal framework, key threats and challenges faced, and recommendations to ensure their protection’ submitted by ISHR, ARC International, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and ILGA at the 35th Human Rights Council session.
The International Service for Human Rights makes this submission in collaboration with organisations working to promote and protect human rights on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), including ARC International; Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch, International lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex association; and 10 other organisations. We welcome the first report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Independent Expert rightly identified the importance of safeguarding defenders working on these issues from ‘incursions and reprisals from various protagonists (whether State or non-State actors) who do not comply with human rights’. This submission outlines the international legal framework underpinning the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) rights defenders (LGBTI defenders), an overview of the key threats and challenges they face, and recommendations to ensure their protection.
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