Non-discrimination

25. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the delegation of the Holy See during the interactive dialogue that it has initiated a review of its legislation with a view to withdrawing the discriminatory expression “illegitimate children”, contained in the Canon Law, in particular Canon 1139. While also noting as positive the progressive statement delivered by the Pope in July 2013, the Committee is concerned about past statements and declarations made by the Holy See on homosexuality, which contribute to the social stigmatization of and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents and children raised by same sex couples.

26. The Committee recommends that the Holy See bring all its laws and regulations as well as policies and practices into conformity with article 2 of the Convention and promptly abolish the discriminatory classification of children born out of wedlock as illegitimate children. The Committee also urges the Holy See to make full use of its moral authority to condemn all forms of harassment, discrimination or violence against children based on their sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of their parents, and to support efforts at the international level for the decriminalization of homosexuality.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CRC-Holy See-2014-eng