in: Inter-American and European Human Rights Journal (Vol. 10, no. 1, 2017)
New Article: M. Canepa, Solicitud de asilo en base a la persecución por motivos de orientación sexual
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Author Archives: Andreas R. Ziegler
UK: LGBT+ lessons: Government’s support for schools promoting equality has been ‘half-hearted’ and left teachers exposed, leading figures say
The government’s support for schools attacked for promoting LGBT+ inclusion has been “half-hearted” and has left many teachers “exposed”, public figures and religious activists say.
Author Philip Pullman and Tory MP Crispin Blunt are among 77 signatories of a letter to the education secretary following months of protests outside schools against LGBT+ lessons.
The open letter says government guidance, which says primary schools are encouraged to cover LGBT+ content if they consider it “age appropriate”, has been “weakly ambiguous”.
Homophobic nations suffer a major loss at the United Nations
12 June 2019 – Countries overwhelmingly voted to hold nations to account on LGBTI issues
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the current mandate holder, is chosen by the United Nations to further LGBTI rights.
India: ICJ submission on LGBTQ persons’ inadequate access to public spaces and the impact on their cultural rights
| https://www.icj.org/india-icj-submission-on-lgbtq-persons-inadequate-access-to-public-spaces-and-the-impact-on-their-cultural-rights/ The International Commission of Jursits (ICJ) has made a submission to Ms. Karima Bennoune, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights (“Special Rapporteur”) in response to a call for submission, in advance of her forthcoming report to the General Assembly on how actors from across the cultural ecosystem access and use public spaces and the impact this has on their cultural rights. ICJ’s submission draws on its ongoing work on the human rights of LGBTQ persons in India and includes findings from the ICJ’s forthcoming report on the rights of LGBTQ persons in the home, at work and in public spaces. The ICJ, concludes that LGBTQ persons’ rights to adequate housing, decent work, and equal access to public spaces are frequently violated throughout India. The interviews conducted by the ICJ reveals that LGBTQ persons have challenges in accessing a variety of public spaces including streets, public transport, sanitation facilities, cultural and religious events, parks and shopping malls, challenges which are not faced by, or not faced in the same way by, non-LGBTQ persons. The ICJ submits that these findings are in contravention of Indian constitutional law and international human rights law. Read the full submission here. |
Indian high court dismisses plea for gay marriage
The Delhi High Court has turned down a plea urging it recognise equal marriage and other LGBT+ rights in India.
The court had been asked to amend the Hindu Marriage Act and other family laws in order to usher in equal marriage and adoption rights, The Statesman reported on Monday (July 8).
Tajinder Singh, the petitioner, argued “the constitution treats everyone equally without any discrimination. It is the duty of the state to ensure that no one should be discriminated.”
Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Harishankar turned down the request, arguing that the court was not in the business of drafting laws.
Singh had also asked that the court form a committee to look into LGBT+ rights.
In its ruling, the court said that while it would not do this, the government is free to form such a body.
“It is incumbent upon the legislature and not the court to recognise the familial relations of LGBTQ community,” the court said, according to Live Law correspondent Karan Tripathi.
Gay sex decriminalised in India
Gay sex was decriminalised by India’s Supreme Court in September 2018.
Under a colonial-era law, men, women or non-binary people who had same-sex relations faced up to life in prison.
History owes an apology to the members of this community.
The law was briefly repealed in 2009 after the Delhi High Court ruled that it violated citizens’ human rights.
Welcome
This is a blog and webpage to keep interested readers informed about legal developments relating to sexual orientation, gender expression and identity and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Hopefully, it will make it easier to find correct legal information about the developments in all regions of the world and, in particular international law. It is related to my academic work in the International Academic Forum on SOGIESC Law but meant to serve anyone who wants to contribute to improve the protection of human rights worldwide. If you prefer this information on Facebook or Instagram, you can still do so.
International and Comparative SOGIESC Law - Professor Andreas R Ziegler 