Gender Identity at the United Nations | Human Rights Council side event

Background

Transgender issues have historically occupied a relegated place within genderrefers to a social construct which places cultural and social expectations on individuals based on their assigned sex. More issues. However, human rights violations faced by transgender and gender non-conforming people are intrinsically related to the different ways in which gender is defined and regulated in different societies, and to the impact of those definitions and regulations at the level of bodies, sexualities and identities. In the work of the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility. More, including that 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, gender identityrefers to a person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. More and gender expressionrefers to how a person presents their gender through physical appearance – including dress, hairstyles, accessories, cosmetics – and mannerisms, speech, behavioural patterns, names and personal references. More should be integrated whenever discussions on gender take place.

Objectives

• Discuss the correlations between gender identity and broader gender human rights concerns
• Discuss how gender identity can be centralised and integrated in the work of the UN on gender
• Explore regional perspectives on gender identity in relation to gender integration and mainstreaming, including best practices and strategies
• Analyse the approach of the Treaty Bodies on gender identity, and discuss strategies on how to advance gender identity issues in the Treaty Bodies

Agenda

Welcome and Moderator

• Zhan Chiam, Gender Expression and Gender Identity Programme Officer, International Lesbianadjective/noun to describe a woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. More, Gayadjective to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional
attractions are to people of the same gender. Men, women and non-binary people may use this
term to describe themselves. More, Bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. More, Transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More, 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 Association (ILGA), Geneva, Switzerland

Panellists

• Mauro Cabral, Co-Director, Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE)
• Eszter Kismodi, International Human Rights Lawyer, Geneva, Switzerland and Director of Advocacy, Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), India
• Sheriff Mothopeng, Regional Advocacy Coordinator, Gender Dynamix, Cape Town, South Africa
• Kseniya Kirichenko, UN Programme (Treaty Bodies and Special Proceduresindependent human rights experts within the UN Human Rights Council with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are non-paid and elected for 3-year mandates that can be re-conducted for another three years. Special procedures can undertake country visits, and act on individual cases of reported violations by sending communications to States and others. They also engage in advocacy, raise public awareness, provide advice for technical cooperation, and contribute to the development of international human rights standards.
More), International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), Geneva, Switzerland