Wed 7 Oct 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A new report has been released documenting the presentations and discussions made during the Regional Dialogue on LGBTI Human Rights and Health in Asia Pacific. The conference was held in February this year at the United Nations Conference in Thailand and brought together more than 200 representatives from over 30 countries. New Zealand sent three representatives including Labour MP Louisa Wall. Wall makes opening remarks in the report, stressing the importance of eradicating state discrimination. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, she says. “We need an approach that recognises LGBTI people as equal human beings and equal citizens within our countries. Governments must govern for everyone, not just the majority or those with the loudest voices.” Highlighting that LGBT rights are not special rights, the report recognises that LGBT communities are calling for protections from violence, police abuses, and stigma and discrimination not only on a societal level but within institutions and governmental services. Noting that law reform is a priority, it is also reinforces the harmful impact binary male/female gender roles have on society. While noting advocacy successes like constitutional measures in Fiji that provide protection against discrimination, the report also draws attention to intersex issues that are largely ignored or misunderstood. Transgender and intersex health rights are described as being widely violated and abused. The Regional Dialogue aimed to identify opportunities, build trust, and promote innovation and action, building consensus and strengthening the movement for legal and social change. It also actively encouraged private sector involvement in LGBT rights and provided a forum for LGBT community organisations and development partners to forge strategic linkages in order to take their agendas forward.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th October 2015 - 7:01pm