Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics Takatäpui Our goal Promote and protect the human rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. Everyone has a sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). People with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, or sex characteristics are in all regions of New Zealand; cover all age, ethnic, disability, and religious demographics; have indigenous, Pacific, and wider heritage; and are parents, children, siblings, and whänau members. People with a non-heterosexual sexual orientation make up 18 percent14 of the population, while estimates of people with diverse sex characteristics make up 1.7 percent,15 and those identifying as transgender 1.2 percent.16 The stigma and discrimination these groups face from society leads to violations of their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural human rights. The issues affecting these populations are the same as many other minority communities, including healthcare, housing, education, employment, safety and violence. These communities do not have or seek new rights or special rights. Impact In this area the Commission: • Worked with community organisations and representatives to receive New Zealand’s first Universal Periodic Review recommendations relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics in January 2019. • Hosted a human rights pre-conference during the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference in March 2019 in Wellington. This brought together more than 50 SOGIESC activists from 14 Pacific nations. 14 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31190681 15 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11534012 16 https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/assets/fmhs/faculty/ahrg/docs/Youth12transgender-young-people-fact-sheet.pdf Annual Report 2019 27