UN: Ban Ki-moon, High Commissioner Pillay, Archbishop Tutu & civil society call for an end to LGBT criminalisation & violence

“Nor can we stay quiet when people are denied fundamental rights – whatever their race or faith or age or gender or sexual orientation. It is unfortunate that laws that criminalise people on the basis of their sexual orientation exist in some countries. They should be reformed”.United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Around the world, people face human rights violations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including killings, criminal sanctions, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, violations of freedom of expression, and discrimination in accessing economic, social and cultural rights. On Friday 17 September, in an event hosted in Geneva, a high-level panel will consider how these urgent matters can best be addressed by the Human Rights Council and other human rights mechanisms.

High Level Panel On: Ending Violence and Criminal Sanctions on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity

When: Friday, 17 September, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Room XII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

Featuring:

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon: Special Statement of Support
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navanethem Pilay: Opening Address 
• Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Special Video Address 
• Daniel Baer, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and labor, on behalf of the co-sponsors: Moderator 
• Alice Nkom: Lawyer, Cameroon
• David Clarke: Society Against Sexual Orientation Descrimination, Guyana
• Sunita Kujur: Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action, India
   

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in some languages 
Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided