<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">David Legge</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:D.Legge@latrobe.edu.au">D.Legge@latrobe.edu.au</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div bgcolor="white" lang="EN-AU" link="#1E66AE" vlink="#1E66AE">
<div><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt"> <a href="mailto:activist-bounces@tac.org.za" target="_blank">activist-bounces@tac.org.za</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:activist-bounces@tac.org.za" target="_blank">activist-bounces@tac.org.za</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark Heywood<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> </span></span></p>
</div></div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:14.0pt">UN Human Rights Council: A Stunning Development Against Violence</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-ZA">Unprecedented Support for Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity</span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">(March 22, 2011) </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">In a stunning development for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights<span style="color:black">, at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, today, Colombia delivered a Joint Statement</span> during General Debate that called on States to end violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and urged the Human Rights Council to address these important human rights issues. The statement was delivered on behalf of a broad grouping of 85 States from all regions of the world.</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Today’s statement enjoyed the support of the largest group of countries to-date, on the topic of sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights.  It is clear that every time these issues are addressed there is measurable increase in state support. </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">During the same general debate, an intervention delivered by Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, still reaffirmed the critical point that “laws that criminalize sexual orientation should be expunged”. Other UN Member States and entities, for example, the Russian Federation and the Holy See, also spoke out against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. South Africa, a signatory to the State joint statement, emphasized in a separate intervention, that sexual orientation is not a new issue for that country, and called for an inter-governmental process to ensure open dialogue on the issue.</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, had stated :</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">“We are not trying to create new or special rights. We are simply trying to address the challenges that prevent millions of people from enjoying the same human rights as their fellow human beings just because they happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br>
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">A group of 19 National Human Rights Institutions, including those from Korea, Senegal and South Africa, also delivered a strong statement on the importance of condemning human rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> Since the UN Human Rights Committee’s landmark decision in 1994, affirming that sexual orientation is a protected ground against discrimination, United Nations experts have repeatedly acted against abuses that target LGBT people, including </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life. UN treaty bodies have called on states to end discrimination in law and policy. </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Signatories to the Human Rights Council joint statement include: Albania, </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blaustria.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Austria</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbelgium.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Belgium</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbulgaria.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Bulgaria</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blcyprus.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Cyprus</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, <a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blczech.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Czech Republic</span></a>, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/bldenmark.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Denmark</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blestonia.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Estonia</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Fiji, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfinland.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Finland</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfrance.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">France</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Georgia, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blgermany.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Germany</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blgreece.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Greece</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Guatemala, Honduras, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blhungary.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Hungary</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Iceland, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blireland.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Ireland</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Israel, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blitaly.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Italy</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Japan, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/bllatvia.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Latvia</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Liechtenstein, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/bllithuania.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Lithuania</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blluxembourg.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Luxembourg</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blmalta.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Malta</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blnetherlands.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Netherlands</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blpoland.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Poland</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blportugal.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Portugal</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blromania.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Romania</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blslovakia.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Slovakia</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blslovenia.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Slovenia</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, South Africa, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blspain.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Spain</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blsweden.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Sweden</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black">Contacts: </span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">ARC International,Kim Vance (Canada/Geneva)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"MS Mincho"">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <u><span lang="EN-ZA">+1-902-488-6404</span></u><span lang="EN-ZA"> or <a href="mailto:kim@arc-international.net" target="_blank">kim@arc-international.net</a> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">International Commission of Jurists, Allison Jernow (Geneva) <a><span style="color:windowtext">+41(0)22 979 3800</span></a>) or <a href="mailto:allison.jernow@icj.org" target="_blank">allison.jernow@icj.org</a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Amnesty International, Peter Splinter (Geneva) +41 (0) 22 906 9483 or Emily Gray (London) <a><span style="color:windowtext">+44 (0) 20 7413 5865</span></a> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Human Rights Watch, Juliette De Rivero (Geneva) +41 079 640 1649 or <a href="mailto:derivej@hrw.org" target="_blank">derivej@hrw.org</a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">COC Nederland, Björn van Roozendaal</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"MS Mincho"">
</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">(Netherlands) <u>+31 6 22 55 83 00</u> or <a href="mailto:BvanRoozendaal@coc.nl" target="_blank">BvanRoozendaal@coc.nl</a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">CAL – Coalition of African Lesbians, Dawn Cavanagh (South Africa) <u>+ 27 11 918 6115</u> or <u><a href="mailto:dawn@cal.org.za" target="_blank">dawn@cal.org.za</a></u>  </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:black"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">GATE - Global Action for Trans* Equality, Mauro Cabral (Argentina) <a><span style="color:windowtext">+54 (9) 351 5589876</span></a> or <a href="mailto:mauro.cabral@globaltransadvocates.org" target="_blank">mauro.cabral@globaltransadvocates.org</a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">IGLHRC - International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Jessica Stern (South Africa) <a><span style="color:windowtext">+27 (0) 71 023 4015</span></a> or <a href="mailto:jstern@iglhrc.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext">jstern@iglhrc.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Sean Casey (USA)</span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"><a><span style="color:windowtext">+1 312-296-2115</span></a> or <a href="mailto:Scasey@heartlandalliance.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext">Scasey@heartlandalliance.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">IDAHO - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, Joel Bedos (France) <a href="mailto:jbedos@dayagainsthomophobia.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext">jbedos@dayagainsthomophobia.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size:11.0pt">Thailand's Sexual Diversity Network, Paisarn Likhitpreechakul (Thailand) <u>+ 66 81 634 3450 </u>or <a href="mailto:asiantrekker@yahoo.com" target="_blank">asiantrekker@yahoo.com</a></span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA"><br clear="all"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy"> </span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy">Germán Humberto Rincón Perfetti</span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy">Latin American Representative of the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association </span></b><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:navy"><a href="http://www.ILGLaw.org" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy">www.ILGLaw.org</span></a> </span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy">Alternate Regional Gay Representative:  ILGA-LAC ILGA </span></b><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:navy"><a href="http://www.ILGA.org" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy">www.ILGA.org</span></a></span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:navy">Bogotá, Colombia</span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:navy"><a href="http://www.rinconperfettiabogados.com" target="_blank">www.rinconperfettiabogados.com</a></span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color:navy"><a href="mailto:rinconperfettigerman@hotmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:navy">rinconperfettigerman@hotmail.com</span></a></span></b><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-CO"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"></span></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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