New York/The Hague June 18, 2018

Our goal as Parliamentarians is not to demonize any sector of society, but rather to insist that Parliament formulates legislation in accordance with international law and obligations that our States have signed and ratified. This is a long and complex process where allies are needed in order to build empathy rather than confrontation.

– Dip. Bertha Sanseverino (1946-2018)

It is with great sadness that PGA marks the passing today of former PGA board member, Diputada Bertha Sanseverino, member of Parliament of Uruguay.

In her capacity as a member of PGA’s Board and Co-Convenor of the Gender, Equality and Population Program (GEP, 2014-2016), Ms. Sanseverino’s commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and equality and inclusion of all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), were key to strengthening PGA’s campaigns for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and against discrimination based on SOGI, particularly in Latin America.

Ms. Sanseverino was always willing to contribute her legislative experience and advance human rights.  She participated in several field missions and Annual Forums and hosted important parliamentary seminars such as a Regional Seminar on Equality and Non-Discrimination based on SOGI for Latin American and Caribbean Parliamentarians, in the sidelines to the Global Conference on LGBTI Rights in Montevideo, in July 2016, as well as a Sub-regional Parliamentary Seminar: International Justice, a fundamental tool for sustainable development in peaceful and inclusive societies, in October 2017.

She also contributed significantly to PGA/UNDP’s joint publication “Advancing the Human Rights and Inclusion of LGBTI Persons: a Handbook for Parliamentarians,” which features her role as a parliamentarian promoting the rights of the LGBTI community in Uruguay.

Additionally, Ms. Sanseverino made significant contributions to the Peace & Democracy Program, expressing her strong engagement with the ATT Campaign, as well as the BWC Campaign, by way of submitting letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

PGA is enormously grateful to Mr. Felipe Michelini, member of the Board of the Trust Fund for Victims, former Uruguayan MP and PGA Board member, who introduced Dip. Sanseverino to PGA, thus significantly strengthening the organization’s ability to contribute to the creation of a rules-based international order for a more equitable, safe and democratic world.

We will remember Bertha for her tireless fight in favor of those less fortunate, her kind demeanor and candid remarks, and her passion and dedication to human rights.