New York, NY June 30, 2017: Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), the largest international network of individual legislators, with a membership of 1,400 parliamentarians in 143 parliaments around the world committed to the rule of law, human rights, democracy, non-discrimination and gender equality, reaffirms its support of the Inter-American System of Human Rights, including cooperation with the Inter-American Commission and the Court on Human Rights, in the promotion and defense of the human rights of all individuals, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) persons.

During the 47^th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), held on June 19-21, 2017, we listened with concern to objections about the body of norms and regional jurisprudence that has been evolving to protect key populations who have suffered a high degree of violence and marginalization and that is rooted in the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as in the American Convention on Human Rights or San Jose Pact.

The Inter-American Commission and the Court have established repeatedly that “the right to equal protection under the law and the principle of non-discrimination together imply that States are obliged to:

1. abstain from introducing into their legal frameworks regulations that are discriminatory or that have discriminatory effects on certain groups of the population;

2. eliminate discriminatory regulations;

3. combat discriminatory practices; and

4. establish norms and adopt the necessary measures to acknowledge and guarantee the effective equality of all people under the law.”^[1]

We are alarmed at the spread of incorrect interpretations among our societies about the foundations of the protection and promotion of Rights that as human beings we inherently have, regardless of our sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and/or sex characteristics.

Therefore, we stand with and support the OAS, the Inter-American Commission and the Inter-American Court, reaffirming our commitment to uphold and defend human rights and to educate and sensitize our peers and constituents on all issues that fall under our responsibilities as parliamentarians to make our societies more just, inclusive and democratic.

Footnote:

^[1] Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Report on Violence against Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Persons in the Americas. November 12, 2015. p. 225.

About PGA’s SOGI Campaign

PGA’s Global Parliamentary Campaign on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI Campaign) sensitizes parliamentarians about the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination in international and regional law and encourages protective measures and legislative reforms that prevent and eliminate the stigma, discrimination and violence against the LGBTI community. For more information, please visit our LGBTI Inclusion site where one can download a joint publication by UNDP and PGA, “Advancing the Human Rights and Inclusion of LGBTI People: a Handbook for Parliamentarians.”

On behalf of Parliamentarians for Global Action
Dip. Margarita Stolbizer, President of PGA, Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Argentina
Senator Valerie Woods, Parliament of Belize
Mr. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament of Canada and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 Issues, Parliament of Canada
Dip. Ronny Monge, Co-Convenor of the Gender, Equality and Population Program, PGA Board Member, Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
Dip. Gloria Reyes, Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic

Contact in New York

Ms. Mónica Adame
Director of the Gender, Equality and Population Program
E:
T: +1-646-762-7295