“Our lives are not negotiable” Activists call on governments to end human rights violations experienced by those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions

During the 47th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development (CPD), individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and their allies, came together to voice concerns regarding ongoing violations of the human rights of individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

This CPD, governments came together to assess progress towards the implementation of the 20-year Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Outcomes from the CPD will feed into ongoing discussions regarding the formulation of the Post-2015 development agenda. The statement, delivered during the 5th and final day of the CPD calls on governments to recognize and fulfil the human rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression “as a crucial step towards fulfillment of the ICPD commitments and development.” The statement ends by stating that “It is time for governments to acknowledge what we all know to be true: our lives are not negotiable.”

Read the full statement below.

COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

47TH SESSION, APRIL 2014; NEW YORK

Statement for General Discussion: on behalf of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Caucus

Delivered by: Joel Mark Barredo

Distinguished delegates and friends, I share with you a statement endorsed by 97 organizations from 39 countries.

People with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions experience crippling violence and debilitating discrimination in all regions of the world.

We are kicked out of housing, bullied out of schools, denied employment and refused the most basic healthcare services, including those related to sexual and reproductive health. Legal and socially condoned discrimination against our communities marginalizes many of us, putting us at additional risk of violence, HIV, and other health problems. Discrimination and stigma further prevents us from seeking or receiving needed care. Too often, the result is preventable suffering, institutional violence and poverty, hindering our enjoyment of the right to development.

The first principle of the ICPD Programme of Action reaffirms that all human beings are born free and equal, without distinction of any kind. Everyone is equally entitled to the enjoyment of all human rights regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Human rights, equality, and non-discrimination are not “controversial issues.” They are the building blocks of development and are fundamental to ensuring strong societies. The ICPD Programme of Action recognizes the central role that human rights play in the achievement of sustainable development. The attempts to silence discussion about human rights within this Commission are a shameful derogation from the accepted principles and standards of the ICPD Programme of Action. It is also unacceptable for representatives of States to attempt to derail negotiations by manipulating ideas about sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual rights for political gain.

To continue to deny the recognition of these universal human rights and perpetuate hatred, violence and discrimination towards people of diverse sexualities and genders is a disservice to this Commission and the principles it represents.

Despite the attempt by a few to render lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons invisible here, we draw strength from the knowledge that we are anything but invisible. In our advocacy, we clearly, publicly, and repeatedly draw attention to the discrimination we face and to our global resistance and activism in the face of adversity.

And we are not alone. In various global spaces, including here at the UN, many countries, including from Asia, Pacific, Southern Africa, and Latin America, have stood up for fulfilling the human rights of all people. They stressed the need to combat human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity if we are to achieve any development goals. We commend the leadership of those who speak up for the recognition of our communities.

The recognition and fulfillment of the human rights and development of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, is a crucial step towards fulfillment of the ICPD commitments and development. It is time for governments to acknowledge what we all know to be true: our lives are not negotiable.

This statement was delivered on behalf of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Caucus at CPD47 and the following 97 organizations from 39 countries endorsed:

1. Action Canada for Population and Development, Canada
2. Advocates for Youth, Global (U.S.)
3. Akahata Equipo de trabajo en Sexualidades y generos, Regional: Latin America
4. Alianza por la Solidaridad, Spain
5. All Out, USA
6. Amnesty International, Global
7. Arus Pelangi, Indonesia
8. ASEAN Youth Movement, Southeast
9. Asia Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW),
10. Asia-Pacific Association of Transgender People in the Philippines, Philippines
11. Astra Youth, Regional: Eastern Europe
12. Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, United States
13. Balance Promocion para el Desarrollo y Juventud AC, México
14. Believe Out Loud, United States
15. Cambodia LGBT Legal Support, Cambodia
16. Cambodia Women & Choices, Cambodia
17. Cambodia ASEAN & Human Rights, Cambodia
18. Cambodia Children & Choices, Cambodia
19. Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canada
20. Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Popultion (CCIHP), Vietnam
21. Centre for Health, Education, Training and Nutrition Awarenss-CHETNA, India
22. Chair, Tonga
23. CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, The Netherlands
24. Closet de Sor Juana, México
25. The Coalition for the Defense of Sexual Rights (CDSR), Nigeria
26. COC Netherlands, Netherlands
27. Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era, International
28. Diverse Voices and Action for Equality, Fiji
29. Drodrolagi Movement, Fiji
30. Equality Alliance, Philippines
31. Equality Myanmar, Myanmar
32. FEDERACION DE PLANIFICACION FAMILIAR ESTATAL, Spain
33. Fellowship for Reconciliation, United States
34. Fiji Women’s rights movement, Fiji
35. FFAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF NEPAL, Nepal
36. Fundacion Arcoiris, México
37. GAYa NUSANTARA, Indonesia
38. Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA), Global
39. Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida, México
40. Haus of Khameleon, Fiji
41. HERA – Health Education and Research Association, Macedonia
42. Indonesia for Human’s, Indonesia
43. INPPARES, Peru
44. INTER-MUJERES, Instituto de Estudios sobre Mujeres, Género y Derecho, Puerto Rico
45. International Centre for Sexual Reproductive Rights (INCRESE), Nigeria
46. International Community of Women Living with HIV, Global
47. International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, Global
48. International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), International
49. International Gays and Lesbians Association, Switzerland
50. International HIV/AIDS Alliance, International
51. International Women’s Health Coalition, United States
52. Ipas, Global
53. Italian association for women in development, Italy
54. Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD, Germany
55. LGBT Centre of Mongolia, Mongolia
56. LLH-the Norwegian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organisation, Norway
57. MANODIVERSA, Bolivia
58. Médicos del Mundo España, España
59. Micro Rainbow International, Global
60. MONFEMNET National Network Mongolia, Mongolia
61. Mongolian Family Welfare Association, Mongolia
62. Mouvement pour le Libertés Individuelles / MOLI, Burundi
63. Mujer Y Salud en Uruguay MYSU, Uruguay
64. Myanmar Youth Stars, Myanmar
65. Naripokkho, Bangladesh
66. NGOs coalition against FGM,
67. Oceania Pride, Fiji Islands
68. Pacific Feminist SRHR Coalition, Regional Pacific
69. Pacific Sexual Diversity Network, Regional Pacific
70. People Like Us, Singapore
71. Procuraduria para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Nicaragua
72. PROFAMILIA Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
73. Rainbow Cambodia Advocate Team, Cambodia
74. Rainbow Rights Project, Philippines
75. RESURJ: Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice, Global
76. RFSU/IPPF MA, Sweden
77. SAHAYOG, India
78. Sayoni, Singapore
79. Sensoa, Belgium
80. Shirkat Gah, Pakistan
81. Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Guyana
82. Sonke Gender Justice
83. Spectrum Uganda, Uganda
84. STOP AIDS NOW!
85. STRAP (Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines), Philippines
86. The YP Foundation, India
87. Think Centre, Singapore
88. UniBAM, Belize
89. Urgent Action Fund-Africa, Kenya
90. Vien Tanjung: Indonesia for Human’s, Indonesia
91. Voice for Change, Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea
92. WISH2.Be, Belgium
93. Women Deliver, International
94. Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), Global
95. YouAct: European Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, European Region
96. Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Global
97. YSAFE (Youth Sexual Awareness for Europe), Belgium