Summary
The statement, delivered in Geneva under Item 8 of the Human Rights Councilan inter-governmental body within the United Nations which has the responsibility to promote and protect human rights. It is comprised of 47 member States, each elected to 3-year terms by the 193 member States of the United Nations. More on Monday 27 June 2016, reminded the Council that the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said: “Current arrangements to protect the human rights of LGBT and intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More persons are inadequate,” and “there is as yet no dedicated human rights mechanism at the international level that has a systematic and comprehensive approach to the human rights situation of LGBT and intersex persons”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5oJeh0SVG8
Later in this week States in the Human Rights Council will vote to establish such an Expert in a resolution brought by a group of Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Uruguay.
We urge States to support this resolution and to oppose any attempts to undermine it, whether procedural motions or amendments aimed at stripping the resolution of its content or focus.
Read the full statement here.
A breakdown of where the 628 NGOs are from follows. The full list is at the end of the statement.