Thai gay rights envoy speaks at LGBTI event
by Achara Ashayagachat
1 Dec 2016
Photo by UN.org
UN gay rights envoy Vitit Muntarbhorn has made a passionate pledge and plea before hundreds of participants from around the world, to achieve a "Leave No One Behind" global agenda at the first global conference on LGBTI Wednesday in Bangkok.
The world community has made a huge leap setting up a mechanism to protect the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their state or status, said Mr Vitit, the UN Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), during his first public speech on gender rights.
"Let's open our hearts and minds to the beauty of diversity, no less in regard to SOGI: A World of Gender Diversity," said Mr Vitit to the 700 cheering participants at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference.
Mr Vitit, who last month secured a voting block which established his mandate, took the opportunity to thank all member states and NGOs supporting this pro-bono, one-time renewable, three-year term position.
His first report about the global state of discrimination against LGBTI will be submitted to the UN in Geneva and New York by next April after which UN members will have a debate in June.
He can also take complaints from victims and act on their behalf by issuing urgent appeals and letters to concerned officials, he said.
Pressure for compliance could be complemented by field visits to countries to enable lessons learned on the ground to be shared in a global setting, said the law professor who has been widely known in UN circles for many decades.
He also urged all bureaucrats and activists to work towards decriminalising same-sex conduct or at least to desist from applying laws penalising transgender people and stop classifying anyone in the LGBTI community as suffering from illness or disorders.
Same-sex relationships are still illegal in 76 countries around the world, causing injustice for LGBTI communities. "Please embrace them as they are. End the practice of aversion or conversion therapy that wrongly aims at changing LGBTI peoples' orientation and identity," he said.
He would also like to see people's desire to change their gender identity to be officially recognised in papers.
He also encouraged LGBTI people to work with religious, political, community and opinion leaders to advocate respect for and the protection of the LGBTI community.
He also mentioned the necessity to promote human rights through a process of socialisation to address violence and discrimination from a young age, and prevent bullying. The process should involve children, teachers, parents, and communities.
He also emphasised the issue of stereotyping, stigmatisation and ostracism that is rampant in the media and social networks, which fuels the antagonism steeped in homophobia and transphobia.
However, he said, LGBTI is one of the target groups of the global adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, with opportunities for all.
"Resolute action is required to stop the violence and discrimination affecting not only LGBTI communities but also the human rights defenders working with them. These go hand in hand with the broader aspirations of human rights, freedoms, democracy, and peaceful and inclusive societies," he said.
Apart from the Gender Equality Act enacted in 2015, the Thai government is finalising the draft Civil Partnership Act this month, said Pitikarn Sithidej, director-general for the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection.
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