VIDEO: Afro-Peruvian women present discrimination cases before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

VIDEO: Afro-Peruvian women present discrimination cases before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Two afro-Peruvian women activists presented the current situation of racial discrimination they, and others in Peru live, to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) during its 95th session. Cecilia Ramirez of the Center for the Development of Black Peruvian Women (CEDEMUNEP) exposed the many challenges she faces, as well as giving a number of recommendations to the Committee in the video that follows:

Likewise, Azucena Algendones bared with the Committee her difficult experience of discrimination suffered in the workplace. The case is currently being processed in court, becoming the first public denouncement of its kind to undergo judicial processes in Peru. Despite the many challenges she faced in advocating for her rights – including the lack of mechanisms available to Peruvians to denounce these violations – Azucena remains committed to continuing advocating for her rights and the rights of all men, women and children victims of racial discrimination.

Message from Carlos Quesada – Executive Director of the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) – on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we must acknowledge the detrimental effect that discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and related forms of intolerance have on marginalized populations as well as on society as a whole. These forms of discrimination make it difficult for societies to be built on justice and equality. Therefore, advocating for the elimination of all forms of discrimination is necessary to promote social cohesion and the right to life and diversity of all peoples.

In our hemisphere, the problem of racial discrimination continues to manifest itself in various ways. In Colombia, the peace agreements signed with the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) have not prevented the killings of dozens of Afro-descendant leaders in the past year alone. In Brazil, police brutality against Afro-descendant youth, as well as killings perpetrated against Afro-descendant trans women, are alarming and exist with impunity. In the Dominican Republic, the problem of structural racism against Dominicans of Haitian descent continues to increase. In Cuba, we continue to witness a complete denial of the issue of racial discrimination, as well as a brutal repression against those wanting to bring it to light. In Peru, it was not until 2017 that a national census quantified the exact number of Afro-descendants, while  in Panama there continues to be an invisibility surrounding the statistics on the problems that Afro-descendants face. These are just a few of the all too many examples.

The United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS) have both created mechanisms of international law to combat the effects of discriminatory practices on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, language, gender identity, or religion. Among them is the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and other forms of Intolerance, which reaffirms States’ commitment in the Americas to the elimination of racial discrimination and the effective realization of the principle of equality within the region. Progress is being made to create legal avenues to address contemporary forms of racism, as well as to push for progressive international standards in the region that comply with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. It is imperative to recognize the efforts made by States and International Organizations to protect the universal right to a dignified life and the effective realization of the principle of equality and liberty of all ethnic peoples. However, the unacceptable conditions that segregation and marginalization have caused in the region continue to manifest themselves today, through the indexes of poverty, unemployment, forced displacement. These conditions include the lack of effective public policies that guarantee the rights to education, health, and dignified life for the Afro-descendant and indigenous communities. These problems are felt especially significantly by women.

Therefore, we urgently call on international organizations and States to double their efforts and adopt the necessary measures to eradicate any and all forms and manifestations of discrimination so that the racist doctrines and hate-speech that undermine the ideals of every human society can be prevented and combatted. Likewise, we make an energetic call for States to ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and other forms of Intolerance. To date, this Convention has been ratified by Costa Rica and Uruguay. The Convention is a mechanism to advance efforts in the fight for universal respect of all fundamental human rights, as well as protect the lives of those who are currently marginalized.

The fight against racial discrimination is the responsibility of all, regardless of age, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. Therefore, understanding the full effect of racial discrimination on men, women, young and old, boys and girls, should concern all social institutions. Understanding these effects is essential to counteract political discourses that belittle the significance and prevalence of racial discrimination and undermine the voices of marginalized populations.

The core mission of Race and Equality is to defend and promote the human rights of vulnerable populations, including populations marginalized because of their national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We commit to continue to denounce and help our partners fight against all forms of racial discrimination, wherever and however it manifests itself.

Race and Equality Joins Congressional Leaders, Policy Advisors, and Activists at a Briefing on the “International Decade for People of African Descent”

Washington, D.C. February 15, 2018. The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality) participated in a Capitol Hill briefing for H. Res 713, which seeks to support the goals and ideals of the “International Decade for People of African Descent.” The International Decade for People of African Descent was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in order to strengthen national, regional, and international cooperation to promote the full enjoyment of the human rights of people of African descent and ensure their full participation in all aspects of society. The decade runs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2024. H. Res 713 recognizes the important contributes of Afro-descendants all over the world and, if passed, would require the U.S. House of Representatives to not only support the international community in promoting the rights of Afro-descendants, but also call upon the United States to “develop and implement domestic and global strategies to execute the goals and ideals of the ‘International Decade for People of African Descent’” and “combat racism.”

The briefing was called by U.S. Rep Hank Johnson (GA-04) who sponsored the resolution and featured key panelists and contributors such as Willie Baker from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; distinguished actor and political activist Danny Glover; and Race and Equality’s Executive Director, Carlos Quesada. U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation, Dr. Mischa Thompson moderated the dialogue.

The briefing comes at a key time where U.S. policy on racism and discrimination continues to cause debate. Support for Afro-descendant communities across the hemisphere, and the world, are greatly needed. Opening remarks by Rep. Hank Johnson, Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI) highlighted the importance to the timing of this briefing, as well as the need to discuss the issues affecting Afro-descendant communities and “promote equality among all populations.” From the U.S. perspective, the Congresspersons urged concrete actions and greater leadership in promoting Afro-descendants in the Americas and in the UN system.

Throughout the conversation, the importance of promoting a dialogue on the Afro-descendant population of the hemisphere was front and center. As an ardent activist and known traveler of the world, Danny Glover has observed that poverty, destabilization of countries, and militarism have affected many communities, but has had an especially significant effect on the Afro-descendant populations. As examples, Mr. Glover noted the perils of the Garifuna people in Honduras, the crisis situation of food scarcity in Venezuela, and the populations displaced in as a result of the armed conflict. Mr. Glover, having seen firsthand these situations through his philanthropic visits, assessed that the Decade should serve as a platform to discuss issues of importance to the Afro-descendant population. Especially important issues include access to justice, education, and economic development. Mr. Glover also urged greater cooperation with leaders across the hemisphere in countries with high Afro-descendant populations.

In discussing the situation of Colombia and Afro-descendant populations displaced due to the conflict, Mr. Willie Baker made quick but powerful remarks from his experience as a member of a U.S. Delegation to the country in 2015. His takeaways from visiting the displaced communities were deeply concerning. Afro-Colombians face greater risks of killings by the paramilitary and continue to live in deplorable, cramped conditions far away from their homes. Mr. Baker strongly condemned U.S. involvement in the conflict and urged the public to step up by pressuring members of Congress to act.

In his remarks, Mr. Carlos Quesada of Race and Equality urged greater action by both the U.S. and international community to benefit Afro-descendants during this Decade. He criticized the lack of actions by the global community in addressing issues of racism and discrimination in the first International Decade for People of African Descent, declared in the 1970s. This Decade resulted in little progress in the international community. Mr. Quesada assessed that the current Decade brings an opportunity for the US to become a global leader in promoting Afro-descendant rights in the region, by means of its political influence and involvement with regional mechanisms of protection and defense of human rights. Mr. Quesada urged the US to support the work that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) does to combat racism and to keep pushing legislation like H.R. 703 that encourages a greater dialogue. Moderator Dr. Misha Thompson closed the conversation by adding that another proposed US bill – H.R.1039, would create a unit at the State Department that focuses specifically on Afro-descendants. More information this and H.R. 703 can be found at the following links:

H.R.703 Commemorating the International Decade of People of African Descent

Human Rights Council Appoints First Female Rapporteur on Racism

Geneva, Switzerland. October 13, 2017. The Human Rights Council concluded its 36th regular session on September 29, during which it appointed Professor Tendayi Achiume from Zambia as the new Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Race and Equality applauds the move since Ms. Achiume is the first woman to be appointed to this mandate since its creation in 1993. Four African men have held the mandate since then.

Ms. Achiume is Assistant Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law. She is also a Research Associate with the African Centre for Migration and Society at the University of Witwatersrand, she earned her B.A. and her J.D from Yale University.  Professor Achiume’s publications include: “The Fact of Xenophobia and the Fiction of State Sovereignty: A Reply to Blocher and Gulati,” Columbia Human Rights Law Review Online (2017) and “Beyond Prejudice: Structural Xenophobic Discrimination Against Refugees” Georgetown Journal of International Law (2014).

Other new appointments included Marie-Evelyne Petrus (France) to the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, while Meskerem Techane (Ethiopia), Melissa Upreti (Nepal), Ivana Radaèiæ (Croatia), and Elizabeth Broderick (Australia) were appointed members of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice. In addition, Ms. Alice Cruz (Portugal) was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

Ambassador Joaquin Alexander Maza Martelli of El Salvador, President of the Council, opened the 36th session on September 11.  The Council then heard an oral update by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on human rights concerns in forty countries, which is featured in our previous article.

Over the course of the three week-session, the Council heard from 17 independent experts and groups, two commissions of inquiries (Burundi and Syria), and the fact-finding mission on Myanmar. The Council held four panel discussions and adopted the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain, Ecuador, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Finland, United Kingdom, India, Brazil, Philippines, Algeria, Poland, Netherlands, and South Africa.

The next session (37th), will be held in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room of the Palais des Nations in Geneva from February 26 to March 23, 2018.

“Darker and more dangerous”: High Commissioner updates the Council at the start of its 36th session.

Geneva, Switzerland. September 15, 2017. The Human Rights Council opened its thirty-sixth regular session this week with an address by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on the worldwide human rights situation.

Now entering the final year of his current mandate, Zeid reflected on the last three years he has served as High Commissioner.

The High Commissioner outlined states’ lack of consistency regarding their human rights commitments. He noted that states often decry rights violations in other countries while denying their citizens basic rights. He also voiced his concerns over governments’ intimidation and threats against human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations.

The High Commissioner discussed key concerns in Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Bahrain, Venezuela, the United States, Turkey, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Mali.

Regarding Latin America, the High Commissioner Zeid noted the OHCHR report on Venezuela, which highlights excessive use of force by security officers and multiple other human rights violations in crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations. “Venezuela is a member state of this Council, and as such has a particular duty to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights,” he said.

Regarding Guatemala, the High Commissioner commended the action taken by the Constitutional Court to reverse an attempt to expel the head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), whose main purpose is to support state institutions in the investigation and prosecution of corruption and organized crime. He also commended the efforts of the many people who took to the streets to support CICIG and the rights of the people of Guatemala to a more open and transparent government.

Regarding the United States, the High Commissioner expressed his concern over the government’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in six months’ time, despite evidence of its positive impact on the lives of almost 800,000 young immigrants and on the US economy in general. The High Commissioner has previously expressed his concerns about the antisemitism and racism openly voiced in Charlottesville, Virginia last month.

The High Commissioner concluded his remarks, saying, “In the first three years of my current term, the world has grown darker and more dangerous. My vision for the work of my office has become more determined, drawing even more deeply on the lessons which come to us from our forebears: human rights principles are the only way to avoid global war and profound misery and deprivation.”

During this session, which concludes September 29th, there will also be four panel discussions, as well numerous interactive dialogues with mandate holders of the special procedures and with the Commissions of Inquiry. At the close of the session, the election of Advisory Committee members and the appointment of seven mandate holders of the special procedures will be held.

The United Nations needs you to help combat racial discrimination. This is how.

The United Nations has a committee dedicated to fighting racial discrimination. But civil society organizations don’t always take full advantage of it.

Race & Equality recently published a report on the work of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the UN body in charge of overseeing the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, an international treaty ratified by every country in the Americas.

Across the region, governments have stated their commitment to combating racism and discrimination. These include the five countries in which we work: Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru.

But to reach its full potential, the Committee must overcome a number of challenges. First, CERD’s mission relies on greater engagement by citizens and organizations on the front lines. Second, greater efforts must be made to ensure governments take into account CERD recommendations on improving laws and policies to combat discrimination.

At Race & Equality we believe that greater participation by civil society in the Committee’s work is key. And a more effective Committee means more concrete actions by governments to reduce discrimination in the region.

Here are 5 ways you or your organization can become more involved in the Committee’s work.

1. Read Up!

For a better understanding of what CERD does, the Committee’s website is the place to start. It has general information about CERD’s work, its membership and how activists can use the Committee. More importantly, it also holds the archives of all documentation produced through the Committee’s work, searchable by country or session, including reports governments have submitted to the Committee, “alternative” reports submitted by non-governmental organizations, and the Committee’s recommendations to each country after its review. Bookmark it!

2. Know the Committee’s Calendar!

While we think it’s important to keep up with the Committee’s work year-round, year after year, there are key points when a more active participation is crucial, especially once a government has submitted a report to the Committee. CERD publishes on its website the dates of its sessions at least six months in advance, and it lists countries who have submitted reports but have not yet been scheduled for review. Keeping up with the Committee’s calendar will help your organization know when your country will be reviewed and better include CERD in its strategic planning.

3. Send the Committee Information!

After a government has submitted a report, people and organizations can submit “alternative” or “shadow” reports. There’s no set formula for the content or length of these reports, but they should include up-to-date, relevant information about situations relating to discrimination or groups that suffer from it, and—ideally—they should reference rights guaranteed by the Convention. While informing the Committee prior to its review of your country is important, information can be sent to the Committee at any time. This can include follow-up information (one year after the review) or information on specific, urgent situations that require the Committee’s immediate attention.

4. Apply for Funds to Attend CERD Sessions!

Traveling to Geneva is expensive, and most organizations face tough budgeting decisions. But incorporating CERD into your organization’s strategic planning and actively seeking funds for travel to Geneva can make advocacy at the UN an attainable goal. Every person we spoke to in our research said attending the sessions made a lasting, positive impact on their work, raising their organization’s profile and increasing its legitimacy with their government. A concerted effort to attend the sessions can have a big payoff!

5. Promote the Committee’s Recommendations!

After each country review, the Committee makes recommendations to the government about how it can better fight discrimination. When we argue that a certain policy should be adopted, noting that CERD has made a similar recommendation gives our claim greater legitimacy and support. We should make every effort to use CERD’s own recommendations to support our agenda and remind our governments when they fall short of their promises.

CERD can make a difference, but it’s up to all of us to take advantage of the Committee’s work and incorporate it into our strategic planning. Please include a comment below if you have other tips for engaging with the Committee or if you’d like more information about how to get involved in CERD’s work.

About The Author

Dominic Procopio – Program Officer at the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights

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Race & Equality Presents CERD Report to Committee in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland – The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights presented its report, The Impact of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru, before the Committee itself in a closed session this Friday, August 4. The meeting was called to present the findings of the Race & Equality’s report on the Committee’s work and impact, and to begin a dialogue about how CERD can use the report’s conclusions to work more effectively Latin America.

Dominic Procopio, Race & Equality’s Latin American Program Officer, told the Committee that despite CERD’s achievements in the region, more still can be done to combat racism in Latin America. Sharing some of the report’s conclusions, he told Committee members that state institutions fighting racism remain weak and that states and civil society have not sufficiently utilized the Committee’s recommendations. At the same time, CERD’s impact has also been limited by a lack of awareness of the Committee’s work throughout the region, he said, noting that this was compounded in countries such as Brazil with poor reporting records. Procopio also stressed the need to continue to strengthen civil society participation in the Committee’s activities.

To address these issues, Procopio urged the Committee to request more information on state institutions in its concluding observations and recommendations to states, and to look for measures to hold states accountable for ignoring CERD’s recommendations. He also called for the Committee to prioritize a stronger communications strategy, to look for ways to remain engaged in non-reporting countries and to develop new methods for increasing civil society participation, including holding regional sessions.

Committee members expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the report. Gay McDougall, CERD member from the United States, agreed that the Committee should work harder to help strengthen state institutions working on discrimination and suggested looking for partnerships within the UN to accomplish this. “CERD can look to coordinate with field offices of the OHCHR, who have funding to do this work,” she said.

Regarding NGO’s role in the Committee’s work, Francisco Cali Tzay, CERD member from Guatemala, was clear. “I come from civil society and I will always support their strong engagement with the Committee,” he said. Cali Tzay also underscored that civil society must do its part to encourage wide NGO participation, echoing another finding of the report.

Several Committee members offered encouragement to expand the geographic focus of the study to include other countries and regions. Verene Shepard, member from Jamaica, noted that a similar report focused on the English-speaking Caribbean would be particularly useful.

The report’s recommendation on regional sessions was met with interest by the members. While Colombian member Pastor Murillo expressed skepticism that CERD could feasibly hold sessions outside of Geneva, several other members suggested the idea be looked at further. Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen, of Mauritius, was most enthusiastic in his support for bringing CERD to the regions, and Anastasia Crickley of Ireland—the Committee’s chair—also supported the idea.

In the coming weeks, Race & Equality will present the report’s findings to civil society and governmental officials in the Latin American countries covered in the report with the aim to contribute to CERD’s more effective use not only in these countries, but throughout the region.

Race & Equality Releases New Report on Impact of CERD in Region

Washington, D.C. July 31, 2017 – The Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights is pleased to announce the release of a new report: The Impact of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial in Discrimination (CERD) in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru.  The study found that while the Committee has helped move forward the struggle against racism and racial discrimination in certain parts of the region, its impact has been uneven and its potential as a mechanism for widespread, sustained change has yet to be fully realized.

The report found that some countries – Colombia and Peru most notably – have increased their engagement with the Committee, leading to positive, if halting gains. The Colombia government continues to support, at least rhetorically, greater Afro-Colombian and indigenous political participation. And Peru has begun work on some of the Committee’s recommendations, including improvement of the national census to better count its ethnic populations.

But its work in other countries has been more problematic, the report found. Brazil has not submitted a report to CERD since 2003, which has meant the Committee has not engaged with the country for over a decade. The Dominican Republic and Cuba have continued to participate in the CERD process, submitting reports and undergoing reviews. Unfortunately, this has not led the countries to adequately tackle discrimination; both the Dominican Republic and Cuba still largely deny that racism and racial discrimination exist in their societies.

These mixed results are the result of confluence of factors, according to the report. States have failed to fulfill their obligations, turning in late reports that do not conform to the Committee’s guidelines and ignoring most of the Committee’s recommendations. At the same time, civil society hasn’t taken advantage of the Committee as an advocacy tool. Organizations in the region don’t prioritize work with the Committee. Those that do engage with CERD do not see the process through, ending their work after the review sessions without doing important follow-up activities. And the Committee itself has not performed as well as it could. The quality of members continues to be uneven, and the Committee hasn’t reached out effectively enough to civil society. Many experts and activists working on racial discrimination in the region know very little about the Committee’s work. And aside from the small number of activists submit alternative reports travel to the reviews sessions, interaction between the Committee and civil society remains almost non-existent.

Despite these challenges, the report remains optimistic that CERD can strengthen its impact in the region. Amongst other recommendations, the report calls for the following actions:

  • The Committee must do more to raise awareness about its work, prioritizing an effective communications strategy and working with civil society to spread its message;
  • States must make a better effort to implement the Committee’s recommendations, as these represent the crux of the CERD process and the key to meeting their international obligations;
  • Civil society organizations working on CERD must deepen grassroots involvement in the Committee’s work and prioritize follow-up work with the Committee, especially monitoring work.

The report has been a concerted endeavor by Race & Equality to support the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and was inspired by the Convention’s 50th anniversary in 2015. The report also seeks to contribute to the United Nations’ work on Afro-descendant issues during the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024.

 

The Human Rights Council Concludes its 35th Session with Unprecedented Highlights.

Geneva, Switzerland. July 10.  The 35th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council began on Tuesday, June 6 and concluded on Friday, June 23, 2017. At the opening event on June 6, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, presented an oral update on the global human rights situation. The Commissioner’s remarks were summarized in a previous article.

On that same day, Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay, delivered a high-level statement. President Vázquez highlighted the importance that all UN Member States recognize, support, and participate in the work of the Council to ensure peaceful coexistence for all. President Vázquez also announced Uruguay’s candidacy for Council membership for the period 2019-2021.

Furthermore, the session included the presentation of the reports made by both the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Comments regarding the reports can be found in separate articles on the Institute’s webpage.

Another highlight of the 35th session was the address of Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In her speech to the Council, Haley said that “the United States is looking carefully at this Council and our participation in it.” Ambassador Haley also referred to the current situation in Venezuela, urging the Council to address the issue. “Venezuela should voluntarily step down from its seat on the Human Rights Council until it can get its own house in order. Being a member of this Council is a privilege, and no country who is a human rights violator should be allowed a seat at the table,” she said.

Additionally, four new mandate-holders were appointed during the 35th session to fill positions in four existing mandates:

  1. Obiora Okafor (Nigeria) was appointed as Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity.
  2. Fernand de Varennes (Canada) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on minority issues.
  3. Felipe Gonzalez (Chile) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants
  4. Fionnuala Ni Aolain (Ireland) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

The Consultative Group (CG), which interviews and pre-selects the best candidates, is formed by the representatives of the Czech Republic, Honduras, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Norway. For this session, the CG examined around 76 individual applications to fill these four vacancies. The Consultative Group sent its recommendations to the Council President, a list of three candidates for each position, in order of preference.

Due to “concerns expressed in relation to the gender balance and equitable geographic representation of the candidates recommended by the Consultative Group,” in an unprecedented action, the President of the Council did not follow the top recommendation put forward by the CG when he selected his preferred candidate for each position.

For the mandates on international solidarity, human rights of migrants and countering terrorism, the President appointed the third-position candidates proposed by the Consultative Group, while for the mandate on minority issues, he chose the candidate in the second position. Usually, at least for the majority of the selections, the President chooses the first choice of the CG.

Finally, the Council’s 35th session concluded with the adoption of 36 resolutions and one statement of the President.

First Expert on the Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity calls for “Diversity in Humanity and Humanity in Diversity” in recent report.

Geneva, Switzerland, 13 June 2017. Last week, during his opening address to the Human Rights Council, the UN’s first Independent Expert assigned to protect against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, presented his initial report under the UN mandate.

The report finds that – even though human rights are inherent to everyone and afford protection for all persons without exception – lamentably, persons with an actual or perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity diverging from supposed societal norms are at times targeted for violence and discrimination. The report is anchored in the belief that while diversity among humans should be recognized – “Diversity in Humanity” – it is essential under international law to harness and reinforce mutual respect, tolerance and understanding, compliance with human rights and a sense of humanity inherent in that diversity.

The report also lists six “underpinnings” – areas that, if addressed, can help establish a safer environment for LGBTI communities. These six underpinnings are: the decriminalization of consensual same sex relations, effective anti-discrimination measures, legal recognition of gender identity, destigmatization linked with depathologization, sociocultural inclusion and promotion of education and empathy.

The functions of the Independent Expert’s mandate includes plans for country visits, communications actions, addressing negative situations pertaining to SOGI and cooperating with a broad range of actors to tackle violence and discrimination based on SOGI around the globe. The first country visit was carried out in Argentina, in March 2017. The End of Mission Statement can be found here.

During the Interactive Dialogue that followed the presentation of the report, several countries engaged with the UN Expert, expressing support for the mandate and a desire to address the issues of violence and discrimination against LGBTI people in their countries. Other states were not as vocal; some simply acknowledged the report and asked vague questions to the mandate-holder. Regrettably, blocks of states restated their objection to the mandate and reiterated they will not cooperate with it, thus running contrary to the Vienna Declaration and failing to fulfill their duty to protect human rights for all persons.

The Independent Expert concluded the discussion by sharing the following statement:

“The preferred path to the future must be that of building bridges premised on prevention of transgressions, remediation for violations, participation of the concerned groups, and protection of human rights for all, resonant with the universal colors of hope and dignity –  as our shared horizon.”

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