184th Liberal International Executive Committee Meeting “Guarantee the protection of human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”

(As proposed by: D66 Netherlands)

Recalling the resolution on the prohibition of persecutions and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as adopted by the Liberal International Congress in Belfast (2008). We note that recent years have seen a rise of violence targeted at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people throughout the world. Such violence is often motivated by state-sponsored homophobia. Frequently governments fail to protect their own citizens from such violence, sometimes violence can even be instigated by governments whilst holding back basic human rights to LGBT people.

Liberal International reaffirms the Yogyakarta Principles as guiding document in interpreting existing human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Noting that the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2008 unanimously adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Liberal International deplores the fact that during past years numerous transgender persons were murdered in Turkey. Most of these crimes go unpunished, often without proper investigation. In other cases governments fail to protect the freedom of assembly: March this year an international LGBT conference in Surabaya, Indonesia, was forced to disperse as a consequence of safety threats coming from fundamentalists. The Indonesian government failed to protect the safety of citizens and international visitors. Numerous other cases are known in which pride parades were banned and LGBT associations were forced to close down.

Expressing concern about the failure to protect citizens and defend their human rights because of their sexual orientation, happens nearly always on deplorable 'moral grounds': LGBT people would be a threat to children, families of even nations.

Noting that politicians, including liberals, around the world too often remain silent when human rights of LGBT people are not respected.

Calling on the European Union to actively protect the human rights of LGBT people inside and outside the European Union. Furthermore, Liberal International calls upon Council of Europe member states to act in accordance with ECHR jurisprudence by guaranteeing the freedom of assembly and asks local authorities to offer sufficient protection when pride parades are organised.

Calling on UN Member States to endorse the statement on sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights as was delivered at the United Nations General Assembly in December 2008 and is now endorsed by 68 states. Concluding, Liberal International strongly calls for the full implementation of and follow-up on the resolution "Resolution on the prohibition of persecutions and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" (adopted at the 55th congress of Liberal International in Belfast).