Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Paramaribo, Suriname │ 4-6 March, 2015

Within the framework of PGA’s Campaign Against Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) (SOGI Campaign), the Gender, Equality and Population Program conducted field missions to Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname on March 4-6, 2015. Dip.  Berta Sanseverino from Uruguay, Co-Convenor of the Gender, Equality and Inclusion (GEI) Program & PGA Board Member, Mr. Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Program at Human Rights Watch and former MP from the Netherlands & PGA member, and Ms. Mónica Adame, GEP Senior Program Officer, participated in the delegation to Suriname. Ms. Adame participated in meetings in both countries.

Given that Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname are target countries for our work in the Caribbean, the purpose of the mission was to build up sensitization efforts and engagement within the Parliament, particularly with MPs from Trinidad & Tobago, who had not been able to participate in previous activities, in advance of the elections scheduled to take place later this year in each country.

In both countries, PGA emphasized the importance of the principles of equality and non-discrimination in international human rights law and living up to a country’s international obligations in human rights by implementing them at the national level, as well as the key role Parliamentarians play in representing and empowering their constituencies to ensure that the legislative framework effectively protects and promotes the rights of all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).  

Activities:

In Port of Spain, Ms. Adame and Mr. Colin Robinson, Executive Director of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation in Trinidad & Tobago (CaisoTT) and Manager of CariFLAGS, a non-governmental organization advocating for equal rights for LGBTI people in the Caribbean, met with four members of the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Diversity, the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Parliament.

Sen. Rev. Joy Abdul-Mohan, Chair of the Committee, expressed her satisfaction for the meeting and noted that sexual orientation needs to be normalized and addressed openly in her country. She had recently stated that “T&T has to be prepared to deal with issues, such as adoption of children by same sex couples and similar issues,” during a debate on amendments to the Adoption of the Children’s Bill in February 25, 2015. 

PGA clarified that while the Campaign aims to ensure equal rights for all, priority has been given to prevent and punish violence and discrimination against LGBTI people, especially transgender persons, in employment, education, healthcare provision and access to justice.

Mr. Robinson urged the Committee to introduce specific language in the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent discrimination based on age, HIV status and sexual orientation, as well as protective measures in jobs, schools and the establishment of shelters for LGBTI youth that are expelled from their homes and end up homeless and more vulnerable. He invited the Committee to participate in the hearing from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights scheduled for March 20, 2015 on this topic.

In Paramaribo, upon the request from the National Assembly of Suriname to provide technical assistance on SOGI and in collaboration with PGA’s National Group in the country, the delegation held two important meetings:

• Roundtable on Equality and Non-Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Chaired by Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the roundtable brought together seven Surinamese MPs, among them Mr. Hugo Jabini, Deputy Convenor of the GEP Program & PGA Board Member, and Ms. Noreen Cheung, Chair of PGA’s National Group, to discuss and highlight LGBTI rights as human rights in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and other Conventions as well as recent international and regional jurisprudence, in which the promotion of rights for all human beings and the protection against discrimination and violence have been enshrined.    

Mr. Dittrich from Human Rights Watch, Dip. Sanseverino from Uruguay and Ms. Cheung, MP Suriname gave excellent presentations on international human rights law, the experience of Uruguay in enacting non-discrimination legislation, marriage equality and a gender identity law, and the importance of dialogue, respect and tolerance for all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, respectively.

Staff of the National Assembly also participated in this public meeting, which was covered by: STVS/National Television and Local News, Journaal, Nieus 5, ATV 12 and Chinese Television; and the newspaper De West.

• Dialogue between Parliamentarians and LGBTI Civil Society

Mr. Boris Dittrich facilitated this dialogue between Ms. Cheung, on behalf of the National Assembly, and Tieneke Sumter and Lucien Govaard, representatives from the LGBT Platform Suriname. Ms. Priya Sital, Chair of the Youth Parliament, Shiefania Jahangier, from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Minouche Bromet, Women’s Parliament Forum, also participated.

The dialogue provided an open space to discuss different topics that impact LGBTI people such as hate speech, violence against transgender people, access to justice and relationship with the police, employment and harmonization of policies across Ministries, among others. Dip. Sanseverino offered some strategies to LGBTI representatives that were helpful in Uruguay when establishing partnerships with different stakeholders to move forward their agenda.

In November 2014, a member of the Youth Parliament sang along Bullet, a song inciting to violence against LGBTI people in Suriname, performed by the group Hakuna Matata. The Youth Parliament distanced itself from this member and during the meeting, Ms. Sital committed to introduce a motion to address the realities of young LGBTI people in Suriname in the agenda of the Youth Parliament. The LGBT Platform has filed a complaint against this song and is awaiting a response from the Attorney General.

Lastly, H.E. Mr. Ernst Noorman, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Suriname, hosted a lunch with representatives of the LGBT Platform Suriname and PGA’s delegation to share testimonies and information about the situation of LGBTI rights in the country. He has been supportive of the Platform’s activities and vowed to continue the collaboration to improve their human rights.

Key Messages and Next Steps:

• Agreement among participating Parliamentarians in Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname about the need to raise awareness about SOGI and foster a dialogue, nationally and regionally, that allows strengthening political support to introduce anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• The Constitutions of Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname enshrine the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Nevertheless, given persistent discrimination against LGBTI people and in the case of Trinidad & Tobago, criminalization of same-sex, adult consensual relations, it is essential that the legal and policy frameworks explicitly include language banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Identification of allies and partnerships to advance the SOGI agenda. One of PGA’s main goals is to facilitate interactions between MPs and civil society as a central piece to empower both sides through understanding the challenges of LGBTI people in their countries and addressing their priorities.  
• In Suriname, recommendation from MPs and civil society to advocate/engage with the business community to introduce LGBT-friendly policies. Some companies have already established gay-friendly policies.
• Relevance of UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations), an intergovernmental union of all South American countries at the Executive level, where SOGI issues could be brought up to encourage regular discussions in its agenda.

PGA’s Secretariat will continue its ongoing communication with participants to ensure progress in these two target countries of the Campaign and to plan follow up actions accordingly.

PGA is very grateful to the Hivos Foundation for their support to carry out these activities.

For additional information, please contact
Mónica Adame
Senior Program Officer, GEP Program
E: monica.adame@pgaction.org