On Tuesday, June 14 the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women took place at the 35th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The focus of this year's panel was women's rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, health and gender equality.
On Tuesday, June 14 the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women took place at the 35th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The focus of this year’s panel was women’s rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, health and gender equality.
RFSL took active part in the panel delivering an oral statement and posing a question to the speakers. The statement was supported by ILGA World. Below, you can read the full statement that was delivered by Micah Grzywnowicz, the International Advocacy Advisor. You can also watch the statement here.
35th Human Rights Council session
June 13th 2017
Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women: Women’s rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: health and gender equality
Statement by: the Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights – RFSL
Joined by: International Lesbian and Gay Association
delivered by Micah Grzywnowicz
Thank you Mr. Vice President,
Agenda 2030 brings promise of “a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed.” It also promises to be “people-centred, gender-sensitive, respect human rights and have a particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable and those furthest behind.”
Lesbian and bisexual women and trans and intersex persons are at heightened risk of being discriminated and excluded. Structural and societal barriers result in discrimination and institutional violence. It is often linked with other factors, such as gender, race, socio-economic status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, drug use or HIV status.
Trans people face particular challenges within healthcare settings – sterilization, forced psychiatric diagnosis, abuse, humiliation, inferior quality of care, extreme violations of autonomy and bodily integrity, or denial of health care as such. Some research shows that almost a fifth of trans people were refused health care because of who they were. It negatively impacts their quality of life and perpetuates a vicious circle of stigma, exclusion and poverty. This cannot be seen as leaving no one behind and it must change.
While implementing the Goal 3, states must acknowledge the devastating impact of intersecting forms of discrimination that LBTI persons face within health care system. The SDGs promises “a world with equitable and universal access to health care and social protection, where physical, mental and social well-being are assured” and it must be applicable to everyone without exception.
To close, what do the panel think should be the first 3 steps for states to ensure that LBTI persons are not left behind in the implementation of the Agenda 2030?
