56th Session HRC
ITEM 3 – Interactive Dialogue Independent Expert SOGI
20 June 2024
Joint Statement of Behalf of member States of the SOGI Group of Friends***
Mr. President,
The members of SOGI Group of Friends would like to thank the Independent Expert for this report.
While we welcome the inclusion of positive developments, including steps to protect against hate speech, violence and discrimination based on SOGI and the passage of non-discrimination laws addressing SOGI around expression, assembly and association; the report documents a discernible trend in all regions of the world of laws, policies and practices that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, including in the digital space.
We are extremely concerned about the finding at least 60 Members State have laws that restrict the right to freedom of expression, and at least 59 States have laws that restrict, or could be used to restrict, the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
We welcome the recommendations made by the Expert in this report, that align with HRC Resolution 50/10 which renewed this mandate, that stresses States’ responsibility to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment in which civil society, including civil society working SOGI issues, can operate free from hindrance and insecurity, both online and offline.
The work of this mandate is pivotal to support initiatives to ensure LGBT and gender-diverse people live free from inequality, including when it comes to access to civic space. In this regard, we would like to ask what role we can play to support the development laws, policies and practices aimed at fulfilling the rights of all to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, including in the digital space?
Thank you.
***Signatory States:
- South Africa
- Albania
- Germany
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Denmark
- Spain
- United States of America
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Netherlands
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Uruguay