Gay well genf

As part of a project to raise the profile of international debates on human rights, Dr. The HRC was established in its current form in , and has 47 member states. It meets for a total of ten weeks a year, but can also convene for special sessions on pressing issues and developments.

Gay well: dein wohlfühl-ort in genf

Germany is one of the current members, coinciding with its membership in the UN Security Council. Since , members have been elected for a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms in order to prevent long-term entrenched structures. More than 5, non-governmental organizations NGOs from around the world have consultative status at the HRC, which enables them to make brief presentations in the round assembly hall, submit statements, and organize side events in the complex of buildings that used to house the League of Nations in Geneva — events which right now may only be held online.

The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD is one of the NGOs with this consultative status. It submits statements and has taken the opportunity to attend sessions and speak up. Other human rights organizations from Germany that do so as part of alliances or via international networks include Amnesty, FIAN, Human Rights Watch, Terre des Hommes, Brot für die Welt, and Forum Menschenrechte.

Patience pays off. NGOs are advised to carefully study which states might be potential partners. They include Russia, Egypt, Pakistan and China. Although the Vatican is not a member of the HRC, it always finds ways to exert pressure regarding LGBTI concerns. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association ILGA World , based in Geneva is a recommended civil society partner for LGBTI topics, as is Human Rights Watch, and also the International Service for Human Rights ISHR which receives funding from Brot für die Welt and the German Foreign Office.

Of special significance is the Universal Periodic Review UPR process which all states have to undergo on a regular basis. The next UPR for Germany is scheduled for The process is a very important development that was introduced in and has been quite effective.

Following the death of George Floyd in late May, the HRC held an urgent debate on racism in the USA. The prospect of holding a debate was strenuously opposed by the USA, which wanted to prevent discussion and any resolution on the subject. The EU and Germany were also reluctant to censure the USA.

Civil society networks, however, did their utmost to support the event. The debate then did take place, and a resolution was passed in which the USA was not named but George Floyd was. These are not legally binding resolutions, but rather political recommendations. They encourage states to address the issues, and civil society can use them to pressure governments to take concrete steps.

This urgent debate was also attended by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her office will produce a report on the topic which itself will be the subject of discussion and therefore keep the issue on the agenda. The resolution is also relevant for Germany, where a discussion on the police and racial profiling is underway.

Here, too, we see that patience pays off. In autumn she plans to return to Geneva, but that of course depends on the further course of the pandemic. All articles on the project "Communicating International Human Rights Debates - Information and Participation from an LGBTI Perspective" can also be found in the LSVD blog under the tag » HR Civil society plays an important role The HRC was established in its current form in , and has 47 member states.

LSVD has consultative status Silke Voss Kyeck The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD is one of the NGOs with this consultative status.