Banjul/Geneva/Strasbourg/Washington, D.C., 16 May 2018

On the eve of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts*, celebrating the 70th year of the of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 70th year of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, urge States and other stakeholders to adopt all necessary measures to ensure that the obligation of all States to address violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity remains firmly included in the 2030 agenda, and to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) persons, communities and populations in the design, implementation and evaluation of all related policies.

Significant progress is being made in the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender non-conforming persons from violence and discrimination. Implementation remains nonetheless partial and uneven: reports of violence and harassment are still the norm in all regions of the world, LGBT people face laws criminalising same-sex relations and gender expression in 72 countries, only one third of States of the world have laws to protect from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and only around 10% of nations have laws that protect from discrimination based on gender identity.

As a result, trans, gender non-conforming, and LGB persons affected by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination (including based on age, gender, ethnicity, disability and social status), are suffering from the lack of access to their economic, social, and cultural rights, and are being effectively left behind. Discrimination against LGBT persons fuels the spiral of violence to which they are subjected daily and creates an environment conducive to their exclusion from opportunity in all facets of life, including education and political and civic participation, and contributing to economic instability, homelessness, and ill health. The development commitments of the international community, placed in the frame of the Sustainable Development Goals, demands that immediate attention be given to ensuring that the systematic exclusion of these groups, communities and populations be addressed: to make sure that no one is left behind, actions must be taken to tear down the systematic barriers that exclude LGBT persons from the benefits of the development agenda.

For example, the rates of poverty, homelessness and food insecurity are higher among LGBT individuals than in the wider community, a situation that bears direct relation with SDGs 1, 8, 10 and 11, the targets of which include ensuring “that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services” and creating “sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies.”

Laws criminalising homosexuality, the pathologisation of trans and non-binary people and other forms of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity shape the attitudes, policies and practices of health-care institutions and personnel, and therefore perpetuate stigma and deter individuals from seeking services and may lead to denial of proper access to their right to health. Branding LGBT persons as ill based on their sexual orientation or gender identity has been, and continues to be, one of the root causes of the human rights violations that they face, including forced treatments such as so-called “conversion therapies”. Addressing these challenges bears strong relation with several international human rights standards and the furtherance of SDG 3, concerning good health and well-being and the targets of which include “access to quality essential health-care services”.

LGBT persons are also systematically excluded from quality education, the subject matter of SDG 4, as a result of harassment, violent abuse and even being thrown out of schools. In all regions of the world bullying based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace, resulting in desertion rates are significantly higher for LGBT persons. This, in turn, deepens exclusion from economic opportunities. In this sense, States have an obligation to ensure that their policies of education are specially designed to modify social patterns and cultural behaviour, counteract prejudice and customs, and to eradicate practices based on stereotypes related to LGBT persons that can legitimise or exacerbate the violence by prejudice.

Without urgent measures to address violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the international community will fail to comply with their international human rights law obligations and deliver on the promise not to leave anyone behind in the implementation of the SDGs. Urgent responses are required from State actors, including legislative, judicial and executive, as well as national human rights institutions, and non-State actors such as civil society, faith-based communities, the media, workers’ organizations, and the private sector. Those responses will rely on the capacity building and international cooperation prescribed by SDG 17, and also the resolution of cross-cutting concerns, among which the availability of “high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts” that is one of its targets, and ensuring that disaggregated data collection and management are implemented in strict compliance with human rights standards, as an effective measures to prevent, punish, and eradicate violence against LGBT persons, and for formulating any needed policy changes.

States must urgently repeal discriminatory laws, adopt protective legislation, reform institutions and implement policies to combat discrimination and ensure the effective inclusion of LGBT persons, as well as ensure effective access to justice, including remedy, and diligent investigations of killings and other acts of violence and discrimination against LGBT persons who face violence and discrimination.

ENDS

(*) The experts:

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT)

UN independent experts: Mr. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights; Ms. Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Ms. Hilal Elver, Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Ms. Leilani Farha, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Mr. Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Dainius Pῡras, Special Rapporteur on the right to health; Ms. Dubravka Šimonović, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR): Mr. Lawrence M. Mute, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa; Vice Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Council of Europe (CoE): Ms. Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights

Officially announced is the UN LGBTI Core group IDAHOTB event on Monday, May 17th, from 3:00-5:00PM EST in Conference Room 1, at the UN headquarters in New York.

A new IDAHOT Thailand website and social channels were launched by a team of IDAHOT partners. The new platforms shows the various IDAHOT events in all parts of Thailand. Organisations, activists and groups who planned to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Thailand were welcome to share their plans on various platforms.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

We are Rainbow: Bangkok Art & Culture Centre lights up with week of activities

Hundreds of people from all walks of life gather for impassioned show of solidarity amid an evening of entertainment and dialogue at BACC. 

BMA, UN, embassy representatives, civil society and artists stand united with LGBTI Thais on International Day against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) stood in solidarity with the United Nations in Thailand, embassy representatives, civil society, private enterprise, entertainers and the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community to commemorate the International Day against Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) on 17 May.

Against the backdrop of the BACC’s 50m high “We Are Rainbow” light installation, these diverse groups united to “stand up, speak out and support LGBTI people in Thailand”, one of the key rallying cries of this year’s IDAHOT Thailand campaign.

In her opening remarks, Bangkok Deputy Governor Pusadee Tamthai said that the IDAHOT commemoration reflects the BMA’s vision of the capital as a city of diversity and that while several stakeholders, including those at the event, are working to advance this vision, it will not be achieved overnight.

“Sexual diversity remains a frequent cause of stigma and discrimination,” she said. “Better understanding and appreciation for diversity will not only make a difference in the lives of LGBT people, but will also improve the overall quality of life, rights and well-being of all people in Bangkok – young people and students, in particular, should be a key area of focus.”

Representing the joint United Nations in Thailand, UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim said that the UN recognized the important progress made in Thailand in promoting LGBTI rights, including in recent policy documents and broad engagement with community groups and organizations. However, he also noted how many in LGBTI Thais “face stigma, discrimination and even violence in schools, health services, communities and within families”.

“With the commitment and the combined efforts of governments and civil society and with the support from the many partners here tonight and those that are here in spirit, I am confident that we will see the  principles of equality and non-discrimination turn into reality for LGBTI people here in Thailand,” Dr Kim said. “The United Nations stands united with the people of Thailand to stand against violence and discrimination of any kind and to ensure the human rights and dignity of all people regardless of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.”

Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya, UNESCO Bangkok HIV National Programme Officer and an advocate for transgender rights in Thailand, said that the IDAHOT commemoration and events leading up to it gave LGBTI communities a space to share their experiences with non-LGBTI communities to promote understanding.

“On behalf of the Thai LGBTI community, we appreciate the involvement of the UN family, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and friends from civil society organizations and also the private sector,” she said. “Today, we are here to celebrate IDAHOT. This is a great moment to come together in solidarity to ensure equality and eliminate discrimination.”

Four young LGBTI advocates also took to the stage to deliver a youth statement, in which they drew from their personal experiences to issue a call for equality and increased mutual understanding between their community and their heterosexual peers.

“Whatever you call us – gay, kathoei, tom, dee or third gender – and even if you consider us different, we too are members of society. Please respect our dignity and our right to live the life we choose, just as everyone should,” the statement read. “Whichever sex you are, we share a common humanity and accepting that, we can stop bullying violence and hatred toward LGBTI people.

“Hatred and fear based on differences creates nothing but contempt and division. It’s understanding that fills the world with love and compassion and can bring about a society in which everyone has an equal right to love.”

Also attending the event were representatives from the embassies of the USA, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States as well as from the sponsors of the lighting installation, the Philips Lighting Academy of Thailand, Bioarchitek, KMUTT’s School of Architecture and Design and the Thailand Illumination Engineering Association.

Thai TV star Meesuk Jangmeesuk was the emcee for the commemoration, which was opened by transgender pianist Remi Namtep’s stirring rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine, and featured a dazzling aerobatic display from the Rainbow All Boy Cheerleading Team as well as performances by Mimosa Pattaya and Balla and Juno from the popular TV singing competition The Voice.

The main IDAHOT event took place amid a week-long series of events at the BACC, which saw LGBTI issues explored through a diverse range of activities, including musical and theatrical performances, panel discussions and sharing sessions, film screenings and more.

 

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Programme:

Tuesday 12 May

10am-12pm: Book launch of “Dear Mom:  LGBTI’s Heartfelt Letters to Their Parents”

2-5pm: “Becoming Me(n)” – closed workshop for transmen to share experiences

6-9pm: “Understanding Bisexuality in Thai Context” – panel discussion

Wednesday 13 May

10am-5pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”

10am-12pm: “Are You PrEPared Enough?” – panel session on the effective use of social media in linking YGMT to HIV and other health-related services including PrEP

2-5pm: “Who’s to Blame?” panel discussion on violence among LGBTI people

5-6pm: “Queer Eye For All” – theatrical performance by the Sun Dance Theatre

6-7pm: “Flawlessly Unique” drag performance by Pangina Heals followed by discussion with Bella Vongvisitsin and Sarina Thai

7-9pm: “Not So Straight Talk” – variety talk show

Thursday 14 May

10am-6pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”

10am-12pm: “Hurt by the Tabloids” – panel discussion on media’s role in negative stereotyping

2-4:30pm: “Breaking the Continuum of Discrimination and Violence in Education and Employment”

6-8.30pm: Live concert by Attention Please featuring Tang Mo from The Voice and others

Friday 15 May

10am-5pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”

5-6pm: “Working Beyond Difference: Student filmmakers for social justice” – film screening and Q&A

6-9pm: “Loud & Proud Thailand” – film screening and Q&A with Directors/Actors

Saturday 16 May

10am-5pm: “Tree of Hope and Dreams” – an interactive exhibition by Youth LEAD and UNESCO Bangkok

5pm-6pm: Outdoor jazz concert with Natt from The Voice

Sunday 17 May

1-5pm: Young Rainbow Workshop featuring T-shirt making, lighting activity and art therapy

5-5.30pm: Piano performance by Remi Namtep

5.30-6pm: Community performances by Bangkok Rainbow Organization, Sex Workers in Groups and Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand and a highlight show by Rainbow All Boy Cheerleading Team

6-9pm: Official IDAHOT commemoration opened by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, with cultural performances by Bangkok Cheerleaders, Balla & Juno from The Voice, Mimosa Pattaya and speeches by special guests. Master of Ceremony, Meesuk Jangmeesuk

Tuesday 19 May

10am-6pm: Respect for All: Promoting Safe and Gender-responsive Schools in Thailand (closed workshop until 3pm, then open to the public)

Media kitA media kit with a fact sheet as well as a list of interviewees available for interviews in English and Thai on a wide variety of LGBTI-related topics are available at the official site: idahotthailand.org

Suggested tweets

• See the programme of events to mark #IDAHOT2015 in Thailand http://ow.ly/M7ct5 #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai #LGBTI Pls RT
• Is Thailand the LGBTI paradise it is often touted to be? The reality faced by #LGBTI Thais http://ow.ly/M7cFN #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai
• Did u know? Nearly 6/10 #LGBTI youth in Thailand are bullied because of their sexual orientation/gender identity. #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai #LGBTI
• Show your support for #LGBTI rights by posting a photo of #WeAreRainbow written on any part of your body http://ow.ly/M7cx0#IDAHOTthai

Media enquiries

For English-language media inquiries, please contact UNESCO Bangkok Media and Communications Officer Noel Boivin: n.boivin@unesco.org

For Thai-language queries, please contact: UNESCO Bangkok HIV National Programme Officer Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya: p.pramoj@unesco.org 

We Are Rainbow

The theme of this year’s IDAHOT Thailand campaign speaks to its aim of taking the discussion out of advocacy circles and into the community to show how LGBTI rights are human rights and that their violation harms everyone. The BACC events as well as the social media campaign launched under #WeAreRainbow focus on educating and engaging members of the public on LGBTI issues and inspiring them to champion these rights, not just on IDAHOT, but every day.

Members of the public got involved in #WeAreRainbow by sharing photos of this slogan written on their bodies in social media or by sharing the messages we have prepared, available here.

 

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More info

For more visit: idahotthailand.org
Twitter: @idahotthai
Facebook: IdahotThailand
Instagram: IdahotThailand

 Media reaction: Bangkok Post

In Thailand actions for IDAHOT 2014 took place in various cities, involving all kinds of different stakeholders – from UN agencies to schools and young people to trans* and gender non-conforming communities, to artists and community activists. Topics highlighted by local groups included bullying in schools, transphobia, and freedom of expression.

School Rainbow Campaign

As part of a wider effort to wipe out LGBT bullying in schools, a broad coalition of groups – UNAIDS Asia Pacific, UNESCO Asia Pacific, APCOM, Youth Voices Count and Youth Lead – joined forces to organise the ‘School Rainbow’ campaign. The campaign encourages communities to come together to make chalk drawings of rainbows in city spaces, therefore symbolising the importance of diversity, public space use, and messages of inclusivity. The collective art works were mainly produced around school gates and other settings where young people are likely to come together.

Planned, coordinated and executed in partnerships with students, schools, and local communities, the campaign also brought ‘the rainbows into the classroom’ with the support of lessons on sexual diversity, acceptance and the right to education. The chalking rainbows action started on May 12 and went on throughout the week around IDAHOT 2014 in at least 4 schools and universities in Bangkok. To learn more about the School Rainbow campaign, you can see the campaign’s website.

Rainbow chalking at New International School Thailand | Photo by UNAIDS/H. Nhan

Study, event and infographic on LGBTI bullying in Thailand

In addition to the School Rainbow event, UNESCO Asia Pacific also commemorated the Day by releasing the first ever systematic study (and infographic) which documents bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools in Thailand. The study formed part of a joint effort of the agency, together with Plan International Thailand and Mahidol University. The study was released as part of another IDAHOT event, “Bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in Thailand: Risks and Realities,” at Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park), 14 May, 5.30pm-8pm.  Organized by UNESCO Asia Pacific, UNAIDS Asia Pacific and the Embassies of the United States and the Netherlands in Thailand, the event also included a film screening and panel discussion showcasing experiences and perspectives on the realities and risks of discrimination and bullying against LGBTI young people.

Power Rainbow Workshop for Young People

Still on the theme of anti-bullying, Anjaree Foundation held a ‘Power Rainbow Workshop’ for young people (high school and college students) on May 17 at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. The workshop provided a forum for LGBTI students to exchange stories of their school life as well as for educators and students to discuss how to reduce bullying, violence and discriminatory practices within school environments in particular, as well as within Thai society in general.

The Panelists of Power Rainbow workshop

Thai Transgender Alliance Actions

The day before May 17, trans* communities and their allies came together to focus on issues of both transgender rights and freedom of expression, as part of an IDAHOT event organized by Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai TGA). Held in Bangkok Art and Cultural Center from noon to 6.30 PM, a “Where Everyone Can Express Themselves” workshop aimed to shed light on the freedom and rights of Thai transgender individuals in accessing state public services, private sector services and employment.

Participants of the “Where Everyone Can Express Themselves” Workshop

IDAHOT Bangkok Actions

The city of Bangkok also has its own IDAHOT Working group, which is made up of individual LGBTIQ activists, and supported by Rainbow Sky Association Thailand volunteers, Anjaree Foundation, Galaya Club, People’s Empowerment Foundation, and some HIV-focused organisations such as SWING and The Poz.

The working group  conducted an IDAHOT campaign this year which was also focused on the concept of freedom of expression. Comprising a smart, cost-free social media advocacy campaign, which plays on the freedom of expression concept, the working group launched the campaign: “IDAHOT Selfies; This is me! This is us!”. The campaign invited LGBTIQ communities and allies to take selfies and post them with the #SiamIDAHOT hashtag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. These selfies were collected into one post-campaign image to create a visual tapestry/representation of LGBTIQ identities in Thailand.

The working group also conducted candlelight vigil ceremony on the evening of May 17 to close the IDAHOT celebration in Thailand together with the above organizers.

The Bangkok IDAHOT 2014 Candlelight Vigil

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was marked publicly for the first time ever in Ghana, in 2014. Actions took place in the capital, Accra, on Friday May 16.

On 16th of May, 2014, the Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) in Accra, Ghana, organized the first ever event in Ghana to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia under the theme of Freedom of Expression.

The event was part of HRAC’s effort to create a platform to discuss the way forward in addressing homophobia and human rights in Ghana. The event gathered over 100 participants from diplomatic missions in Ghana, from UN agencies, civil society organisations, NGOs, academia, LGBTI communities, and human rights groups.

A banner was signed by various people (pictured below), to gather support to end homophobia in Ghana, followed by the screening of a documentary by Scott Mills titled “The World’s Worst Place to be Gay?”. There was a panel discussion, drawing together professionals from various fields, to address the opportunities, threats and way forward in addressing homophobia in Ghana.

Banner with Signatures in Accra, Ghana

Sexual Rights Alliance (SRA), a group of Vietnamese NGOs, conducted an IDAHOT event in Ha Noi on May 15 with “Free Expression” as the key theme of the action and LGBT youth groups conducted an event in support of the Campaign Tôi Đồng Ý 16+. Additionally, PFLAG Vietnam sent out a message of respect and love on IDAHOT.

In partnership with United Nations Vietnam, the purpose of the event was to urge the Vietnamese government to take more action to protect Vietnamese LGBTI communities but also to celebrate progress in reducing stigmatisation and discrimination.

To underline the message of the event, participants from the National Youth Theater took to the stage to express how stigma and discrimination affect young LGBTI Vietnamese people.

IDAHOT 2014 in Hanoi, Vietnam. May 15, 2014.

The event included an opening speech by UN representative and SRA representative, a video clip about how Vietnam has changed in protecting LGBT rights, contemporary dance on IDAHOT 2014 theme: Free Expression and drinks & finger food and free hang-out afterwards.

On the occasion of IDAHOT, the LGBT Nha Trang community also hosted a public event as part of the Campaign Tôi Đồng Ý 16+ (I Agree 16+). More than 30 young people attended the event that promoted the petition for equal rights for LGBT. It aims to

1. adjust the law on marriage and family & (modified) of which referred to article 16, the provisions on the settlement of the legal consequence arising out of the Union between two people of the same gender (femalespersonal, property, etc.)
2. adjust the law Registrar, including on the issue of change/adjust your registrar information as a citizen. This is especially meaningful to the transgender community in changing their identity in legal documents.
3. law of citizen identification. Along with the law Registrar, adjusting the personal information of each citizen according to their identity is important to the community.

Pictures were taken as part of the campaign that were published on social media. Find out more about the campaign here.

Source: LGBT Nha Trang

PFLAG Vietnam, the organisation for parents, friends & families of LGBT people, has sent a special message of solidarity as part of the celebration of IDAHOT to their children and the entire society. The called out to other parents to take their children’s side and to stand by them when they face discrimination, violence and prejudice. And they addressed Vietnamese society to not tolerate these prejudices and discriminations.

IDAHOT message by PFLAG Vietnam

Ban Ki-moon observed that, “In all parts of the world today, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experience discrimination in every aspect of daily life… We have a long road ahead. It will not be easy. But we must ask ourselves: Do we want to live in a world where love is targeted or where it is celebrated; where people live in fear or in dignity?”

His message of support was also promoted via the United Nations official Twitter account (@UN), which read “Equality begins with you – Ban Ki-moon weighs in on #IDAHOT here”.

Over 2.6 million people were reached by this message, less than 48 hours before the #IDAHOT commemorations are set to start, in around 120 countries, in all world regions.

This comes just hours after the UN campaign Free & Equal launched a special #IDAHOT video “The Power of Sharing”, which you can watch here:

Today, 2.8 billion people worldwide live in one of the 81 countries, which still criminalize same-sex acts.

4.9 billion people – 2/3 of the world’s population – have their right to information or expression around sexual and gender diversity systematically censored by states.