Mon, 09/01/2012

In December 2011 the United Nations released the first ever report on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity titled: Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and sexual identity.

The report focuses on not only on discrimination in financial and work-related areas, but also on the impact of sexual orientation and sexual identity on employment, aged care, social security, workers’ compensation, health care and family law, superannuation and veterans’ entitlements for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and inter-sex people. It documents violations of human rights including discrimination, hate crimes and criminalization of homosexuality.

» Read document here

The report follows a statement presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 condemning harassment, violence, arrest, and prejudice based on sexual gender and orientation, which was intended to be adopted as a resolution. Neither this statement, nor the opposing statement has been officially adopted by the UN General Assembly at this time.

Here in Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission undertook a public consultation in October 2010 to listen to personal stories of discrimination from lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans and inter-sex people, and the impact discrimination has on their health and wellbeing.

According to the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Hon Catherine Branson QC, as accessed on the Australian Human Rights Commission website http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/report/index.html  accessed on 9 January 2012,

“Equality and freedom from discrimination are fundamental human rights belonging to all people. Yet the voices of those who participated in our consultation revealed that many people continue to be denied equality and freedom from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. ...

People of all sexual orientations and gender identities deserve to be treated with respect and equality. Diversity is, after all, what makes a society vibrant. The overwhelming message from this consultation has been that people who experience discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity simply want to enjoy the same rights as others in the community; rights that so many of us take for granted. I hope that this report will inform the on-going process of strengthening human rights protections for everyone in our community, regardless of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity.”