Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6
Background.......................................................................................................................... 6
ACJ Reference .................................................................................................................... 6
Structure of Report .............................................................................................................. 7
Terminology ......................................................................................................................... 8
1. International Law.............................................................................................................. 10
Discrimination, equality before the law and equal protection of the law ............................ 10
States Obligations regarding discrimination and equality .................................................. 11
Application to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity ...................................................... 11
– by UN Treaty Bodies ..................................................................................................11
– by UN Special Procedures ......................................................................................... 12
– by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council ......................................... 13
– by Regional Human Rights Mechanisms ................................................................... 15
Summary ........................................................................................................................... 17
2. Terms of Reference..........................................................................................................19
TOR 1 – Criminal law.........................................................................................................19
– Introduction ................................................................................................................19
– Advances ...................................................................................................................19
– Inconsistency with International human rights law ..................................................... 20
TOR 2 – Anti-discrimination law ........................................................................................21
– Introduction ................................................................................................................21
– Advances ...................................................................................................................21
– Limitation in coverage of anti-discrimination legislation ............................................. 22
TOR 3 – Recognition of change of gender identity............................................................ 23
– Introduction ................................................................................................................23
– Advances ...................................................................................................................23
– Limited recognition of changes to gender identity...................................................... 25
TOR 4 – Other laws, policies and practices.......................................................................25
– Introduction ................................................................................................................25
– Advances ...................................................................................................................25
– Limitations ..................................................................................................................26
– Equal protection of the law.........................................................................................27
– Arbitrary detention, torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ...... 27
– Privacy ....................................................................................................................... 28
– Health......................................................................................................................... 28
– Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association .................................................. 29
TOR 5 – Human Rights Defenders.................................................................................... 29
– Introduction ................................................................................................................29
– Positive developments ...............................................................................................30
– Limitations in protection .............................................................................................30
3. Recommendations ...........................................................................................................32
ACJ Report: Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
4