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Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Participants in a meeting of national human rights institutions from the African region in 2017 expressed such a welcome perspective, noting that, in Africa, religion was inevitable. There was no process of inclusion and evolution of any type that could happen without faith leaders being one major actor. National human rights institutions could engage with already existing inclusive faith leaders and faith-based organizations that were advocating the rights of all. The positive voices provided opportunities to build on.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 53r
- Paragraph text
- The submission from the human rights Ombudsman of Guatemala called for more explicit integration of sexual orientation and gender identity into the legal framework as well as measures to counter the violence in the country. The extensive violence is much highlighted by non-governmental organization sources. Lack of knowledge of the law and difficult access to justice may also hamper implementation of a State’s anti-discrimination law.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- All countries have engaged with the Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review and most have engaged with one or more of the special procedures. There has been much coverage of the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity under these mechanisms, particularly from the angle of anti-violence and anti-discrimination, such as in the work of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Action against violence and discrimination has been espoused more recently in the 17 globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals, to which all countries are committed, with a framework of 2015-2030 for operationalization. Goal 16, which covers inclusive societies and access to justice, aims to bring about substantial reductions of violence and to promote anti-discrimination measures, on the basis of leaving no one behind. An all-inclusive approach invites effective coverage of all persons whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Parallel to this, the role of community leaders, including in the political, cultural and religious fields, needs to be tapped more strongly. Also, the business sector has the potential to integrate sexual orientation and gender identity into the workplace and in the commercial/financial/investment/developmental field. These are also avenues for promoting the generation of more disaggregated data, linked with various indicators, to provide incentives for exemplary performance, consonant with human rights. On a related front, the Sustainable Development Goals framework provides more opportunities for various kinds of cooperation and support — particularly under Goal 17, which opens up space for more multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation. There is the welcome vista of more South-South cooperation, as well as triangular cooperation — such as activities between States, civil society and the business sector; neither should the power of various forms of media and their reach be forgotten.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Full enjoyment of human rights by such persons is a longitudinal challenge, starting in the home and extending to the educational system, the work place and life beyond. Discrimination is also intersectional. Many countries are, however, still hampered by the lack of or insufficiency of anti-discrimination measures, which is linked with the environment leading to violence and discrimination. There is thus a need for effective anti-discrimination measures covering both the public and private spheres, and of a comprehensive kind: not only formal but substantive, not only de jure but also de facto, in addition to the building of a community open to understanding and respecting sexual and gender diversity.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Other regional human rights instruments offer opportunities for advocacy against violence and discrimination. For instance, it is stated in the Arab Charter on Human Rights, of 2004, in its article 3, that: Each State party to the present Charter undertakes to ensure to all individuals subject to its jurisdiction the right to enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth herein, without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religious belief, opinion, thought, national or social origin, wealth, birth or physical or mental disability.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Even though human rights are inherent to everyone and involve protection for all persons without exception, persons with an actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity diverging from a particular societal concept of sexual orientation and gender identity are at times targeted for violence and discrimination, and violations are pervasive in numerous settings.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- It should be recalled that everyone has some form of sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation denotes a person’s physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction towards others, while gender identity concerns a person’s self-perceived identity, which may be different from the sex assigned at birth, as well as the expression of gender identity. The two notions should not be conflated. However, it is unconscionable that persons with an actual or perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity different from a particular social norm are targeted for violence and discrimination in many parts of the world. Killings, rape, mutilation, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment as well as arbitrary detention, abduction, harassment, physical and mental assaults such as lashings and forced surgical interventions, bullying from a young age, pressures leading to suicide, and discriminatory action, aggravated by incitement to hatred, in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity are pervasive in numerous settings.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The establishment of the mandate to promote action against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is anchored in international human rights law, and it is a momentous commitment to multilateralism. It is an invitation to be forward looking and an incentive to move forward together. The present report is thus a clarion call to embrace diversity, complemented by the belief that respect for human rights energizes human society, yielding a positive dividend in terms of peace, sustainable development and societal inclusiveness. It also contributes to economic benefits, while reinforcing a sense of common humanity transcending borders and cultures.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, of 2012, stipulates that: Every person is entitled to the rights and freedoms set forth herein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, gender, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, disability or other status.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Complementing the measures outlined above, resolution 275 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, on protection against violence and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity, of 2014, resonates with the following message for the African region and beyond: Strongly urges States to end all acts of violence and abuse, whether committed by State or non-State actors, including by enacting and effectively applying appropriate laws prohibiting and punishing all forms of violence including those targeting persons on the basis of their imputed or real sexual orientation or gender identities, ensuring proper investigation and diligent prosecution of perpetrators, and establishing judicial procedures responsive to the needs of victims.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- An array of international human rights instruments help to entrench calls for non-violence and the principle of non-discrimination in international law, with due respect for sexual orientation and gender identity. The genesis of human rights protection after the Second World War was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of 1948. There are now nine core international human rights treaties, complemented by various protocols. All of them interrelate with the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity, to a lesser or greater extent. For instance, the right to be free from discrimination is propounded in article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in all human rights treaties. Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates: Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Conversely, an inclusive society enables people to enjoy protection from violence and discrimination, and leaders in the social, cultural, political and other fields can have an important role in communicating, motivating and fostering that inclusiveness. Religions and other belief systems, in their sense of humanity, can be a great platform for promoting understanding and empathy — in terms of nurturing care, compassion, tolerance and respect for diversity. Yet, the situation locally often leaves much to be desired where there are approaches to and/or interpretations of doctrines or beliefs which are inconsistent with human rights; this results in sociocultural exclusion which is then channelled into situations of violence and discrimination. It should not be forgotten that exclusion, steeped in violence and discrimination, also has a social and economic cost, both for the victim and for society as a whole. This is obviously the case where such exclusion pushes people underground, for example in relation to HIV/AIDS — making disease control difficult and with ensuing health implications and economic/financial consequences for society.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- There is thus a need to move towards decriminalization in respect of these laws, which regrettably help to fuel the violence and discrimination.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Albinism is a condition that results in a significant or near total lack of pigmentation in any or all of the skin, hair and eyes. The most significant human rights issues have emerged from myths linked to the form of albinism involving a lack of pigmentation in the skin. This is also the most visible form of albinism. All forms of albinism are together understood as rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited and occurring in both sexes, regardless of ethnicity, in all countries of the world. However, in most communities around the world, albinism is not fully understood.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- In addition, such fear of contagion can be extended to objects touched by persons with albinism. In the words of a person with albinism, "some people will not touch what I touch. In the bus no one wants to sit next to me. People don't want to shake hands with me, share utensils, touch me or come near". Similarly, another person with albinism reported that people refuse to share a taxi with him. Further, as a result of such beliefs, people are sometimes reluctant to eat any food that has been touched by persons with albinism. This is particularly stigmatizing in a context where persons eat from a common pot. It also raises difficulties for persons with albinism working at markets, as customers may prefer other sellers.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The Human Development Index, which is a strong indicator of poverty and correlating factors, showed in 2014 that of the 26 countries where attacks have been reported, 20 were listed as countries with a low human development coefficient; the other six affected countries were listed in the medium human development category. That said, it is noteworthy that, overall, the affected countries had a level of income inequality that ranged from relative equality to relative inequality, with a GINI coefficient range of 30.8 to 63.9, the average for all 26 countries being 44.3.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination, stigma and bullying of persons with albinism owing to their appearance have been reported in all regions of the world, to varying degrees. Such discrimination has been described as discrimination based on skin tone or shade, including within the same ethnic group. While discrimination based on skin colour is an everyday reality for most persons with albinism, discourse on discrimination based on colour has rarely been applied to albinism. This is for various reasons such as the lack of visibility of albinism, until very recently, the lack of understanding of what persons with albinism experience and lastly, but perhaps most significantly, strong historical ties of racial discrimination discourse to race or ethnicity. Yet, there is potential to address albinism under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as the governing concept is not "race" but "racial discrimination", which may be based on any of five "grounds": race, colour, descent, national origin and ethnic origin.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Some countries with a record of attacks against persons with albinism have identified as a major problem the ambiguity between witchcraft on the one hand and the practice of traditional, herbal or alternative medicine on the other. This is further complicated by the secrecy surrounding witchcraft and the resulting difficulty in identifying its real practitioners in all cases. These matters raise the question of whether and how these occupations ought to be defined and regulated as a means of preventing human rights violations allegedly and actually committed by their practitioners. There is also the issue of whether witchcraft beliefs should be given any form of legal character or recognition when it is largely a supernatural phenomenon. Often, these issues are further complicated by the fact that many legal instruments addressing witchcraft are outdated and disconnected from current social realities.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The mass media has also been accused of fuelling attacks by irresponsible reporting of the issue. Critics argue that the publishing of prices for body parts could create an incentive for attacks where none previously existed. They point out best practices from reports on drug trafficking whereby some media refuse to publish the market value of drugs confiscated by police so that potential drug traffickers are not tempted by reading about it. While there are no studies establishing a correlation between increased media attention on the issue and increased attacks, it is unreasonable to completely deny the possibility that the publishing of alleged prices of body parts may incentivize profiteers.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Guided by her mandate to identify, exchange and promote good practices relating to the realization of the rights of persons with albinism and their participation as equal members of society, she will strive to identify effective measures to address discrimination against persons with albinism at all levels, including with regard to access to health and education. This collection of best practices would address the protection and promotion of human rights of people with albinism and focus on issues beyond attacks, namely discrimination and equality.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, the Independent Expert will give particular importance to her mandate to conduct, facilitate and support the provision of advisory services, technical assistance, capacity-building and international cooperation in support of national efforts for the effective realization of the rights of persons with albinism and to prevent violence. She is therefore particularly committed to fostering capacity-building of national stakeholders, promoting exchanges on challenges and experiences and supporting efforts in translating international norms into national legislation, policies, programmes and practices that are effective and adapted to national circumstances.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- In the public interest, it is also important that States ensure adequate standards for traditional medicine. There must be minimum requirements for all practitioners, regardless of whether they are affiliated with an organization. The standards must be in line with established human rights norms, without compromising the core principles of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of goods and services. The obligation on States also extends to ensuring that practitioners do not conduct harmful practices, including the use of body parts of persons with albinism for muti or juju.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert recommends the implementation of similar projects in all countries affected by any or all of the phenomena of attacks, discrimination and stigma against persons with albinism. Such projects should not be interrupted and last for a minimum of two years. Content should be accessible, including through the use of vernacular languages. Social media, mobile phone technology, community radio, rural cinema and television programmes have also proven to be particularly useful for awareness-raising. Creative awareness-raising methodologies and new ways of presenting information, including through community theatre and celebrity ambassadors, have also been successful.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- The present report will focus on the aspect of witchcraft relating to the ritual killing of persons with albinism for the use of body parts (also referred to as muti or juju), for the ultimate goal of obtaining an advantage or causing harm, or for any other purpose which necessitates the attribution of supernatural powers to the body parts.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 46a
- Paragraph text
- [Accordingly, to be regarded as harmful, practices should meet any or a combination of the following criteria:] They constitute a denial of the dignity and/or integrity of the individual and a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, myths that persons with albinism are destined to experience poor fortune and cannot do well in life are also a reflection of the discrimination they face on a daily basis. Unfortunately, too often, given the myth-driven historical context of discrimination, there is a disproportionately small number of persons with albinism able to disprove this myth with the example of their lives. Other beliefs, that persons with albinism are unable to learn or are mentally challenged, illustrate the particular discrimination they face regarding access to education, including persistent bullying and the absence of reasonable accommodation for the vision impairment that is often part of albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The appearance that ensues in albinism, in particular the lack of melanin in the skin, eyes and hair, exposes tens of thousands of persons to stigma and discrimination across the world. It is reported that, in Africa, attacks directed at persons with albinism are usually carried out with machetes, resulting in severe mutilation or death. In most cases, the persons attacked are dismembered; body parts such as fingers, arms, legs, eyes, genitals, skin, bones, the head and hair have been severed from the body and taken. In several of those cases, body parts have been hacked off while the person was alive. Reportedly, there is a corollary witchcraft belief that it is preferable to harvest body parts from live victims because screams increase the potency of the potion for which the parts are used. Possible human sacrifices of persons with albinism have also been reported, including through immolation.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Although belief in, and practice of, witchcraft can be associated in certain cases with empowerment, healing and cleansing, attacks and use of body parts of persons with albinism, regardless of the purpose for which they are used, cannot under any circumstances be considered an elemental part of any legitimate practice, whether linked to witchcraft or to traditional medicine, because such acts inherently constitute criminal activity and other human rights violations. Consequently, they cannot be justified on the basis of tradition, traditional medicine, or any other ground.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph