Public Consultation on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, 24-25 January 2017, Palais des Nations, Conference Room XXVI

TheIndependent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity convenes a public consultation during which States, UN bodies and stakeholders will have the opportunity to exchange views with the Independent Expert on defining the scope of his work, setting priorities and developing effective strategies.

The Independent Expert will also discuss the following five linchpins, interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that are instrumental in addressing the challenges of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and that will help frame the priorities of the mandate:

• Decriminalization
• Destigmatization
• Legal recognition of gender identity
• Cultural inclusion with gender-and-sexual diversity
• Empathization

This consultation will enable the Independent Expert to identify priority work areas in carrying out his mandate, to set short- and long- term goals to achieve and to develop effective strategies to accomplish these goals. Discussions will inform the Independent Expert’s initial report to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly, to be presented in June and October 2017 respectively.
More information...

Participation and programme

The consultation is open to States, UN agencies, programmes and funds, regional human rights mechanisms, National Human Rights Institutions, members of civil society organizations, religious communities and interfaith groups, medical professionals, academic institutions and all other interested stakeholders.

The consultation will start with a general segment during which the Independent Expert will introduce his work and his initial thoughts about the mandate and exchange views with all participants.

In order to foster in-depth and substantive discussions, the consultation will then be organized around three meetings. At each meeting, one cluster of participants will be given priority to interact with the Independent Expert, while others will be welcome to attend and engage at the end of the meeting if time allows.
Programme and guiding questions...

Practical details and contact information

The consultation will take place in Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix 8-14, Geneva, Switzerland, Room XXV, on 24 and 25 January 2017.

If you do not have a badge to enter the Palais des Nations, please send an email message to ie-sogi@ohchr.org by latest 16 January 2017, indicating that your name should be placed on the list with Security. Please ensure additional time to obtain accreditation.

For issues related to this consultation or to submit information related to the mandate, please write to the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity (ie-sogi@ohchr.org).

The consultation will be streamed live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/UNOHCHR and can be followed on social media:  #UNSOGI.