Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. National statement.
Mr. President,
In the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action it was reaffirmed that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. States unanimously agreed to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone. Today, and every day, we must recommit to upholding that commitment.
All persons, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, have an equal right to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination, harassment and stigma. Yet we know that LGBTIQ persons’ full enjoyment of human rights continue to be challenged and denied for simply no other reason than who they are and who they love.
We are seeing alarming rates of violence, discrimination and stigmatisation against LGBTIQ persons worldwide and growing number of discriminatory laws, policies and practices. This can never be accepted.
The global pushback against gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the LGBTIQ persons’ full enjoyment of human rights is deeply worrying and contradicts the commitment made in Vienna in 1993. Therefore, we must recall the duty of every state to respect, protect, and fulfil the human rights of all, without discrimination.
I thank you.
