13th December 2012:
ILGA World Conference condemns attacks on rights of 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, transgender 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 (LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More) people
The 450 participants from 103 countries who are assembled in Stockholm for the ILGA World Conference strongly condemn the initiatives of the parliaments and governments in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda as well as in Russia and Ukraine, to outlaw homosexuality or “homosexual propaganda”, and the increased implementation of the ban on homosexuality in Cameroon.
The ILGA World Conference demands respect and fair treatment for all people, regardless of their sexual orientationrefers to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to - and intimate and sexual relations with - individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender. 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.
The delegates of the Conference echo 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 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his speech at the UN special event on December 11th and his message to the ILGA Conference: “Let me say this loud and clear: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are entitled to the same rights as everyone else.”
The ILGA World Conference call upon the political leaders to take on their moral obligation to stand up for minority rights, and we urge the parliaments and governments of Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, Russia and Ukraine to respect the universal fundamental human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people by withdrawing the bills and change the laws.
The infringements on the human rights of LGBTI people:
- The authorities in Cameroon are increasingly implementing the ban on homosexuality and are imprisoning gays and lesbians.
- The Liberian Parliament has introduced a bill that would expand the ban on gay sexual relationships to any person who “seduces, encourages, or promotes another person of the same genderrefers to a social construct which places cultural and social expectations on individuals based on their assigned sex. More to engage into sexual activities.” The bill also prohibits same-sex marriage.
- The Nigerian bill against homosexuals which would impose prison sentences for same-sex marriages and for persons or groups that “witness, abet and aids the solemnization of a same sexrefers to the classification of a person as male, female, or other - usually made at birth, written on a birth certificate, and usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy. A person’s sex, however, is actually a combination of bodily characteristics, including chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics. More marriage or union” or “supports” gay groups, “processions or meetings, as well as anyone who registers gay clubs and organizations protecting the rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people.
- The ban on “homosexual propaganda among minors” in Russia will violate, among others, freedom of speech, expression, and association, as well as the right to assembly and the right of access to information. Moreover, the discussed provisions violate Russia’s obligations under international and Russian national law.
- The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda which contains harsh provisions that would threaten the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. This would also threaten the ability of some human rights organisations to continue operating
- The ban on “homosexual propaganda” in Ukraine will severely restrict the fundamental rights of LGBTI citizens, amongst others freedom of speech and expression, the right to assembly and freedom of association.
Facts about the ILGA World Conference:
10 to 16 December 2012, 450 activists from 103 countries gather in Stockholm for the World Conference.
The ILGA conferences, which have been held since 1978 are the place where members and allies of the only federation of LGBTI organisations meet to share their experience and best practices, strategize, build alliances and partnerships and elect their representatives.
The highest authority of ILGA is its World Conference, during which Member Organizations, the Executive Board, the Women Secretariat, the Transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More Secretariats, the Regional Executive Boards, and many other allies gather together to strategize, network, endorse new members, shape the life of ILGA via proposals and constitutional changes, and to vote for the election of the Co-Secretaries General, the Women’s Secretariat and the Trans Secretariat.