1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity 41st session of the Human Rights Council Item 8. General Debate Oral Statement Speaker: Phylesha Brown – Acton Mr. President, I have the honour to deliver this statement that was endorsed by 1316 organisations working on diverse topics. Around the world, millions of people face human rights violations and abuses because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI). These abuses include: killings and extrajudicial executions; torture, rape and sexual violence; enforced disappearance; forced displacement; criminalization; arbitrary detentions; blackmail and extortion; police violence and harassment; bullying; stigmatization; hate speech; denial of one’s self defined gender identity; forced medical treatment, and/or forced sterilization; repression of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, religion or belief; attacks and restrictions on human rights defenders; denial of services and hampered access to justice; discrimination in all spheres of life including in employment, healthcare, housing, education and cultural traditions; and other multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination. These grave and widespread violations take place in conflict and non‐conflict situations, are perpetrated by State and non‐ State actors (including the victims’ families and communities) and impact all spheres of life. In 2016, this Human Rights Council took definitive action to systematically address these abuses, advance positive reforms and share best practices – through regular reporting, constructive dialogue and engagement – and created an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). This Council considered the mandate an essential tool to respond to the vast body of evidence of such violence and discrimination in all world regions and followed recommendations from the UN human rights system – including the Treaty Bodies, the Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and the findings of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and many others. The two mandate holders have examined these issues in greater depth through reports, country visits, communications, and statements issued in the past three years. They have identified root 1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity causes and addressed violence and discrimination faced by specific groups, including lesbian, bisexual, trans and gender diverse persons. The mandate has also welcomed progress and identified best practices from all regions of the world, including in decriminalisation, legal gender recognition, anti‐discrimination laws and hate crime laws that include SOGI. All the while, continuing to engage in constructive dialogue and assist States to implement and further comply with international human rights law, as well as collaborating with UN mechanisms, agencies, funds and programs and other bodies in international and regional systems. For persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities globally, this mechanism and its work have been a beacon of hope that violence and discrimination will not be ignored; and since 2016, progress has been made in many areas in all regions, including in countries that have decriminalized consensual same‐sex sexual acts, legally recognized a person’s gender identity and promulgated SOGI‐inclusive anti‐discrimination and hate crimes laws. Despite these positive advances, to this day, 69 countries still criminalize consensual same‐sex sexual acts, seven with the death penalty. Alarmingly 3000 killings of trans and gender diverse people were reported in 72 countries in the past decade. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans and gender diverse people everywhere face daily discrimination and violence. Mr. President A decision by Council Members to renew this mandate would send a clear message that violence and discrimination against people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities cannot be tolerated. It would reaffirm that specific, sustained and systematic attention is needed to address these human rights violations and ensure that LGBT people can live a life of dignity. We the 1316 NGOs from 174 States and territories around the world urge this Council to ensure we continue building a world where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination. To allow this important and unfinished work to continue we urge you to renew this mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Thank you. 1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity 1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity List of Organisations that endorsed the statement Out of the 1316 organisations that have signed this statement 143 are international organisations 225 are regional organisations from all world regions 948 are national organisations out of which o 177 from the African Region o 236 from the Asia and the Pacific Region o 108 from the Eastern Europe Region o 237 from the Latin America and the Caribbean Region o 189 from the Western Europe and others Region The organisations come from 174 different UN member states and territories. The following list is sorted alphabetically according to name of the organisation. Type of N° Name of Organisation Organisation Region State or Territory Latin America and the 1 100% Diversidad y Derechos National Caribbean Argentina 2 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines Inc. National Asia and the Pacific Philippines 3 42 Degrees International 6Rang (Iranian Lesbian and Transgender 4 Network) National Asia and the Pacific Iran 5 A 11 ‐ Initiative for Economic and Social Rights National Eastern Europe Serbia Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human 6 Rights in Iran National Asia and the Pacific Iran ABGLT ‐ Associação Brasileira de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis, Transexuais e Latin America and the 7 Intersexos National Caribbean Brazil ABIA‐ Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Latin America and the 8 Association National Caribbean Brazil Latin America and the 9 Abogadas por la igualdad National Caribbean Mexico Latin America and the 10 ABRAI National Caribbean Brazil Latin America and the 11 Abriendo Brechas de Colores National Caribbean Cuba 12 ACCEPT Association National Eastern Europe Romania 13 Accept‐LGBTI Cyprus National Asia and the Pacific Cyprus 14 Access Chapter 2 National Africa South Africa Latin America and the 15 ACCIONGAY National Caribbean Chile 1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity 16 Accountability International International Latin America and the 17 ACIGV National Caribbean Haiti Western Europe and 18 ACON National others Australia Action Citoyenne pour l'Egalité Sociale en Latin America and the 19 Haiti Regional Caribbean Haiti Western Europe and 20 Action for Care National others Democratic Action pour la Lutte Contre l'Injustice Sociale ( Republic of the 21 ALCIS) National Africa Congo Western Europe and 22 ActionAid Denmark National others Denmark Western Europe and 23 Anonymous organisation National others Portugal 24 Addis Alliance National Africa Ethiopia Latin America and the 25 Adesproc Libertad National Caribbean Bolivia Western Europe and 26 aditus foundation National others Malta 27 Advancement Collective Regional North America United States 28 Advocacy and Research for men in zimbabwe National Africa Zimbabwe Latin America and the 29 AFDA National Caribbean Argentina 30 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BÉNIN Regional Africa Benin 31 Africa Young Positives Network Regional Africa 32 African Coalition on Green Growth Regional Africa 33 African equality centre Regional Africa Ghana 34 African Human Rights Coalition International Western Europe and 35 African Rainbow Family National others United Kingdom 36 African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) Regional Africa Afrihealth Optonet Association [CSOs 37 Network] Regional Africa 38 Afrique Arc En Ciel (AAEC) National Africa Togo 39 Afrique arc‐en‐ciel Regional Africa 40 Afrique arc‐en‐ciel guinee (AAECG) National Africa Guinea Western Europe and 41 Afro Rainbow Austria National others Austria 42 AGAP (Rwanda LGBT) National Africa Rwanda Western Europe and 43 Age International National others United Kingdom 1316 NGOs working on diverse human rights issues, from 174 States and territories around the world call for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity