On 6 September 2023, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) made a submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the Philippines.
An opinion piece by Mathuri Thamilmaran, National Legal Advisor – Sri Lanka at the International Commission of Jurists
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in Sri Lanka have too often been subjected to discrimination, abuse, violence and harassment in violation of their human rights. Throughout the years research reports have continuously identified the Sri Lanka Police as the foremost perpetrators of human rights violations against LGBTI individuals. Developments in the last few months saw both the Sri Lanka Police and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) acknowledging this fact and seemingly taking steps to remedy the situation.
In view of the participation of members of South Africa’s executive and judiciary in the annual African Bar Association conference, which this year is being co-sponsored by Family Watch International, an organisation that has been accused of spreading hate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary and other gender- diverse people (LGBTQ+) persons, among others, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Gender Dynamix (GDX) call on the South African authorities participating in this event to uphold the South African Constitution, human rights, equality and non-discrimination and denounce any attacks against LGBTQ+ persons.
An opinion piece by Mathuri Thamilmaran, National Legal Advisor – Sri Lanka at the International Commission of Jurists
A state minister’s recent comment has once again brought to the forefront the need to include comprehensive sex education in the Sri Lankan school curriculum. Back in 2010, the then UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education commented in his report to the General Assembly that “sexual education must pay special attention to diversity, since everyone has the right to deal with his or her own sexuality without being discriminated against on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual education is a basic tool for ending discrimination against people of diverse sexual orientations.” Indeed, the experiences faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in Sri Lanka indicate that comprehensive sex education should include learning about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in order for schools to be an inclusive safe space for all students.
The authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand should immediately reform laws, policies and practices that have led to violations of the right of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse (LGBT) persons to safely and freely express themselves and access information online, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said in a new report launched today.
The 50-page report, Silenced But Not Silent: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons’ Freedom of Expression and Information Online in Southeast Asia, documents the restrictions and barriers LGBT individuals face to safely and freely express themselves and access information online in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
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