FACULTY OF LAW Stockholm University LGBT-rights - sexual orientation, gender identity and the human rights Josefine Friman Thesis in International law, 30 credit points Examiner: Pål Wrange Stockholm, SprinG term 2014 Acronyms CAT – Committee against Torture CEDAW – Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CESCR – Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights CRC – Committee on the Rights of the Child ECHR – European Convention on Human Rights ECtHR – European Court of Human Rights HRC – UN Human Rights Committee ICCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ILGA – International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association LGBT – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender NGO – Non-Governmental Organization OHCHR – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights OSCE - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe UN – United Nations UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights UNHCHR – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Purpose and subject of inquiry ......................................................................... 5 1.3 Method ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Definition of terms ................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Important legal documents ................................................................................ 8 2 Sexual orientation as a crime ....................................................................... 9 2.1 Practice of the courts ............................................................................................ 9 2.2 Hate Crimes ............................................................................................................ 14 2.2.1 Groups of sexual minorities and hate crimes .................................................. 16 2.3 Prohibition of torture or other inhuman and degrading treatment .. 18 2.4 Death penalty ........................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Appraisal ................................................................................................................. 20 3 Discrimination ............................................................................................. 21 3.1 “Other status” ........................................................................................................ 22 3.2 Fundamental freedoms ...................................................................................... 22 3.3 Discrimination of economic, social and cultural rights .......................... 29 3.4 Other discriminations ........................................................................................ 32 3.6 Appraisal ................................................................................................................. 33 4 Family Rights ............................................................................................... 35 4.1 Civil Partnership .................................................................................................. 35 4.2 Marriage .................................................................................................................. 37 4.3 Same-sex adoption ............................................................................................... 39 4.3.1 The best interests of the child ................................................................................ 40 4.3.2 Case Law .......................................................................................................................... 42 4.3.4 Same-sex parents ......................................................................................................... 45 4.4 Appraisal ................................................................................................................. 46 5 General Conclusions ................................................................................... 47 6 References .................................................................................................... 51 6.1 Articles ..................................................................................................................... 51 6.3 Cases ......................................................................................................................... 52 6.4 Treaties .................................................................................................................... 52 6.5 UN documents ....................................................................................................... 52 6.6 Web ........................................................................................................................... 53 3 1 Introduction The human rights situation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons is a global issue. There is no region in the world where people are not mistreated on grounds of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gen- der identity. In 76 states it is by law a criminal offence to be homosexual.1 In other states, discriminatory laws and practices of state authorities and society are common if you belong to a group of divergent sexual orientation or gender identity. It is not unusual to be considered a second-class citizen and be denied rights due to one’s sexual preference or the fact that one perceives him- self/herself in a way that does not correspond to the general norm. The scope of human rights violations committed against sexual minorities is wide and in- cludes everything from executions, killings, torture, physical, sexual and psy- chological abuse to discrimination and denying of fundamental rights and freedoms. The threat of the possibility to be exposed to all or any of these vio- lations forces LGBT persons to live in constant fear and prevents them from being accepted for who they are. The right to self-determination and to be rec- ognized by others and by your state as an individual equal to others should apply to every human being irrespective of whom he/she loves or what gender one considers himself/herself to be belong to. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, the rights shall be enjoyed by everyone according to the principle of universality, which means just that, protection and enjoyment of the rights for all. The international human rights law consists partly of interna- tional customary law and of human rights treaties and conventions. Despite the principle of universality sexual minorities are constant victims of violations of these rights. The on-going exclusion of sexual minorities from essential human rights exists both on a macro level: in the international community and domes- tically, and on a micro level for individuals in their homes and working places. 1 "STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA - ILGA." <http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf>. Homosexuality is not a new concept, but the development of the rights for sex- ual minorities is a fairly recent phenomenon and the jurisprudence has pro- gressed enormously in the last three decades. The fast development is of course considered positive for sexual minorities but the current situation for LGBT persons is by no mean close optimal and these issues are more relevant than ever. The positive developments reaches far from everywhere. In the West we discuss same-sex marriage while in five countries of the world having consen- sual sex with an adult of the same-sex is an offence punishable by death penal- ty. Uganda recently passed an extremely controversial Anti Homosexuality act, also known as the anti-gay bill, which increases the oppression on the already highly vulnerable sexual minorities in the country.2 In 2011 the European Court of Human Rights found Russia guilty of violating the right to a peaceful assembly when denying a homosexual man to arrange a pride march. Two years later in 2013 Russia passed a federal law prohibiting any distribution of information or promotion of homosexual and non-traditional relationships to minors. For all these reasons this is a subject that is very relevant to discuss in relation to the international human rights law. In this essay, I will examine and try to evaluate the compatibility of international human rights law and sexual orienta- tion and gender identity. I will do this in three parts starting with the criminali- zation of homosexuality followed by discrimination of sexual minorities and finally the developing family rights. 1.2 Purpose and subject of inquiry This essay strives to put sexual orientation in relation to the human rights. The main question for this study is whether sexual minorities are protected by in- ternational human rights law. If yes, is the protection effective and sufficient? Or is there need for more specific international legislation on the subject? 2 Anti-Homosexuality law in Uganda violates human rights and endangers LGBT people – <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14275&LangID=