Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions THIS MANUAL This manual deals with experience, law and action. Part I discusses the experience of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. It begins by building understanding of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. It then looks at the specific experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in the Asia Pacific region. Their experiences demonstrate that, throughout the region, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people experience human rights violations. They also point to changes that have occurred in recent decades and the progress still to be made. Part II discusses the law. It describes how international human rights law applies in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. It shows how the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people within the coverage of international human rights law has been a gradual process of recognition, acknowledgement and application. Part II then presents the Yogyakarta Principles, the most comprehensive statement on this subject in the form of legal principles. Part III discusses the role of the NHRIs, both individually and jointly. It describes what the APF has done since the adoption of the Yogyakarta Principles and the current APF program of action. It also presents possible areas for action that APF members can take in exercising their own responsibilities and through their participation in the APF regional program. The manual provides many case studies of the work of NHRIs on human rights issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. Some are short examples of activities undertaken. Others are longer descriptions of comprehensive programs. The case studies provide information on past and present activities of individual NHRIs and offer inspiration to all NHRIs for future projects. They assist NHRIs to learn from each other. The final chapter of the manual offers possible actions for NHRIs – 50 of them. These are actions NHRIs can take, under each of their functions, to promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. The manual was prepared with the advice and assistance of a reference group drawn from APF members and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex activists and scholars. The members of the reference group are listed in Appendix 7. 6