WASHINGTON – A delegation from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), this week will participate in the United Nation’s (UN) assessment of human rights in the United States.
During the proceedings in Geneva, HRC representatives will take part in consultations related to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a standing UN process in which every country in the world regularly submits its human rights record for review by the UN Human Rights Council. This year will be the second such review of the United States.
HRC’s participation guarantees that the concerns of LGBT Americans — and recommendations for improving the lives of LGBT Americans — will be afforded a full and thorough hearing when the United States government appears before the Council in May.
“HRC is pleased to be participating in the UPR process, and we are committed to using every platform that we have, domestic and international, to advocate for full equality for LGBT Americans,” said Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global. “As we sound the alarm for Americans to stand up against human rights abuses against LGBT people in places around the world, we must also hold our own country up to the same high standards.”
“LGBT activists in places from Mongolia to Palau can attest to how participating in the UPR process has helped strengthen LGBT rights in their countries,” Cobb said. “We know the same can be true for our own country.”
While in Geneva, HRC will recommend that the U.S.:
· Take all possible steps at the state and federal level, including enacting a comprehensive civil rights law, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in credit, education, employment, housing, jury service, public accommodations, and taxpayer-funded programs;
· Increase funding for research, prevention, and treatment to combat HIV/AIDS, which disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men, and transgender women;
· Strengthen measures to prevent and combat violence, especially the alarming rate of murder experienced by the transgender community, and violence experienced by the broader LGBT community;
· Fully implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inmates who are subject to violence, harassment, and sexual assault in confinement facilities;
· Take steps to ensure U.S. foreign aid funding is not used to support groups that are exporting hatred, bigotry, or intolerance.
The HRC delegation in Geneva will meet with representatives of countries that have strong records on LGBT equality to discuss progress in the United States. Members will also meet with US officials and representatives from other non-governmental organizations from around the world.
