Thread by @robmcd85

Yesterday @victor_madrigal the UN’s Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity expressed his deep concern with the situation in the UK for LGBT people.

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The expert says he is deeply concerned regarding “…increased bias-motivated incidents of harassment, threats, and violence against LGBT people, including a rampant surge in hate crimes in the UK”

“All of this is attributed – by a wide range of stakeholders – to the toxic nature of the public debate surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity,” he further explained.

Madrigal-Borloz further observed: “Waiting lists for gender affirming treatment at the National Health Service continue to be years-long, and current initiatives risk erosion of achievements in comprehensive sex education,”

The expert praised the work of the national governments and civil service of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland “in relation to devolved competencies in health, education, housing, and employment.” but highlighted LGBT people are still over represented in homelessness.

Madrigal-Borloz expressed grave concerns over long-promised legislation to ban ‘conversation therapy’.

“The vicissitudes of this and other necessary public policies appear to be connected to political discourse concerning gender-diverse persons and refugees and asylum seekers, two areas in which recent State actions are cause for concern,”

The expert also took issue with recent advice by the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to the UK Government that promoted the reduction in human rights protections for trans persons with legal recognition of their gender.

“These actions were admittedly with the objective of withdrawing trans women from legal protections to which they are entitled under the Equality Act,” Madrigal Borloz said.

“Politicians must carry out evidence-based evaluations, free from stigma and preconception,” Madrigal-Borloz said.

It is clear from the words of the expert that he is extremely disappointed and concerned by the situation in the UK and the way in which trans and gender-diverse people are being treated by the UK government and the institutions which are duty bound to protect them.

It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the significant part they’ve played and still play in the vilification, abuse and harassment of trans and gender-diverse people, the UK media have yet to report on the experts findings.

I would implore the independent expert @victor_madrigal and his colleagues in CESCR and CCPR to continue to press, with all urgency and vigour, for the UK govt and the EHRC (UK’s NHTI) to cease this campaign of vilification and abject abuse of trans and gender-diverse people.

It speaks volumes that in the last six years, the UK govt has been condemned by the UN committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and now the UN’s Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sources:

1. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/tr…

2. UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights - undocs.org/A/HRC/41/39/Ad…

3. UN’s Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity - ohchr.org/sites/default/…

I hope that @HumzaYousaf’s govt in Scotland and @MarkDrakeford’s govt in Wales will continue to push and continue to apply the collective weight and application of their respective govt’s for the protection and development of human rights for minority groups.

We need to ban the cruelty of conversion ‘therapy’ and tackle the unacceptable delays and inadequacies in health care for trans and gender-diverse people.

I’d urge both FM’s to find ways that the national govts of Scotland and Wales can work to protect trans and gender-diverse people in this current toxic climate. I’d call for both FM’s to look at establishing a cross-govt equalities body…

which would bring together human rights and equality experts and advocates to advise both the Welsh and Scottish govts on equality and human rights and would explore opportunities for cross-govt joint-working in the protection and development of rights.

The concerns expressed by the UN’s expert above should trouble us all and if left unresolved and unaddressed, the cost will continue to be paid by trans and gender-diverse people. Upholding minority rights is non-negotiable and essential for a just and fair society.

#EndConversionTherapy #LGBTQ+ #HumanRights

Addendum:

The UK has fallen three further places in @ILGAEurope’s annual ranking.

https://twitter.com/stonewalluk/status/1656588984435318789

Another great article by @NeilMackay

https://twitter.com/neilmackay/status/1657044131506536448

You can read the article at -

heraldscotland.com/politics/viewp…