International Commission of Jurists
ICJ and other NGOs express concern at UN at global backlash against the human rights of women and LGBTQI people (UN Statement)

ICJ and other NGOs express concern at UN at global backlash against the human rights of women and LGBTQI people (UN Statement)

Jun 28, 2021 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions

The ICJ joined civil society organisations in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council to express deep concern about at a global backlash against LGBTIQI during the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The joint statement reads as follows:

“This is a joint statement.

This June marks 10 years since the first resolution on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We welcome the Expert’s work and his essential role connecting the lived realities of LGBT people and communities and defenders with the UN.

We also welcome this report and the analysis of gender grounded on international human rights law it provides.

We support the Expert’s intersectional approach, as well the sustained focus on identifiying root causes of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We highlight with concern the Expert’s acknowledgement that ‘trans and gender-diverse persons suffer an unacceptable state of extrajudicial executions, forced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, as well as systematic exclusion from education, employment, housing and health care’.

In the context of the growing anti-human rights movement, we witness a global backlash against the human rights of women and LGBTQI people, as well as an increase in criminalization and persecution of defenders in the context of governments’ purported responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen increased targeting, harassment, attacks and detention specifically of trans and gender-diverse human rights defenders who are targeted because of the work they do and because of who they are.

With respect to promoting and protecting human rights, the Expert clearly highlights the critical role of national, regional and international civil society; while noting that civil society spaces are actively being shrunk. We echo the Expert’s call on States to ‘uphold an enabling environment for civil society working for the human rights of trans, non-binary and gender-non conforming persons, and to respect and protect their rights to freedom of assembly and association’.

The voices of LGBTQI human rights defenders must be heard in order to keep governments accountable for human rights violations, and to continue to demand that the UN system fulfill its human rights mandate.

In this vein, we deplore the systemic underfunding of the UN human rights system and the drive for so-called efficiency, including the cancellation of general debates in June. General debates are a vital part of the agenda by which NGOs can address the Council without restrictions. We call for the reinstatement of general debates at all sessions, with the option of civil society participation through video statements.

Finally, we welcome the Expert’s recognition of the Yogyakarta Principles and the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10, as authoritative articulations of existing international human rights law in relation to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as their broad application in international, regional and national fora.

Thank you”

 

Signatories:

Amnesty International;

Article 19;

CHOICE for youth and sexuality;

International Commission of Jurists;

Outright Action International;

Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights (RFSL)

Accountability International;

Association Humanity First Cameroon;

Campaign Against Homophobia, Poland;

International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights;

ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey;

Edge Effect; GATE, Trans, Gender Diverse and Intersex Advocacy in Action;

Human Rights Defenders Network-SL;

Intersex Asia Network;

Lesbian and Gay Federation, Germany;

Mulabi;

Planet Ally;

Organization Intersex International – Chinese;

The Norwegian Organization for Sexual and Gender Diversity;

Synergia – initiatives for human rights;

Young Queer Alliance.

ICJ concerned that the MultiChoice Group claims it is “not in the position to take actions” against Emmanuel TV for discriminatory ‘Conversion Therapy’ Clips

ICJ concerned that the MultiChoice Group claims it is “not in the position to take actions” against Emmanuel TV for discriminatory ‘Conversion Therapy’ Clips

Jun 4, 2021 | Advocacy, Open letters

In May 2021 the ICJ wrote to The MultiChoice Group in South Africa urging it to suspend Emmanuel TV on any of the DSTV platforms for broadcasting  televangelist Pastor TB Joshua’s multiple video clips ostensibly depicting  violent ‘conversion therapy’ and hate speech against LGBT persons amounting to discrimination and human rights abuses. MultiChoice responded  that it has “no editorial control or oversight” over Emmanuel TV as it is a “third-party channel” and therefore MultiChoice cannot investigate the incident further or take any remedial action.

MultiChoice claims on their website to “entertain, inform and empower African communities”. In addition to this, their entertainment platforms are a hub for approximately 14 million people across 50 countries. MultiChoice has a huge reach into African countries and in the homes of millions of people living in Africa. As a result, they have a responsibility to act in a way which does not promote harmful practises.

In response to ICJ’s letter, MultiChoice stated that it does not review the content broadcast on third-party channels such as Emmanuel TV prior to its broadcast. In place of a thorough investigation, the entertainment group said that it contacted Emmanuel TV and the latter stated that the ‘conversion therapy’ clips were not broadcast in April 2021. It is significant to note that Emmanuel TV did not deny that the clips were aired at all. Rather, MultiChoice alleged that it was simply “unable” to independently verify that the clip was broadcasted in April 2021 or at all.

Contrary to the impression given in its letter to the ICJ, MultiChoice is not limited to investigating offensive broadcasts that are aired within  a specific time period. Additionally, while the ICJ notes  MultiChoice’s assertion that Emmanuel TV is a third-party channel and consequently MultiChoice has no editorial control or oversight over the content of the channel, the ICJ believes that MultiChoice has a duty to not broadcast material that is discriminatory and in contravention of the South African Constitution.

MultiChoice has a responsibility to conduct a serious investigation into this matter  and take the necessary remedial action. Consequently, we do not find that Emmanuel TV’s confirmation to MultiChoice,  that the clip was not broadcast during April 2021 is sufficient; and MultiChoice’s inability to verify whether this program was broadcast at all, is unsatisfactory.

The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, under the umbrella of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, has concluded in May 2020, that conversion therapy amounts to torture and ill-treatment and has called for a global ban on such practices.

In light of this, the ICJ is of the view that MultiChoice has a greater responsibility to the African audience to refrain from participating in the broadcast of such harmful practices, and must publicly take a stance against facilitating the airing of such broadcasts. The ICJ believes that MultiChoice’s responsibility as Africa’s “leading entertainment company” is not to pay “lip service” to the values of the South African Constitution, but rather to hold itself to higher thresholds of accountability. 

ICJ has consequently urged MultiChoice to:

  1. Independently investigate this and other discriminatory and potentially unlawful broadcasts by Emmanuel TV and take appropriate remedial measures.
  2. Undertake to exclude Emmanuel TV as part of MultiChoice’s package to the public, or alternatively, to heavily condition its contract with Emmanuel TV to disallow the broadcast of offensive materials; should the investigation lead to the conclusion that the clip was broadcasted by them.
  3. Ensure that such offensive materials are not broadcast on any MultiChoice channels, irrespective of their status as third-party channels.
  4. Offer an apology from Multichoice Group to the LGBT persons, unless MultiChoice is able to demonstrate independently that the clip was not broadcast at all on their platform, neither by Emmanuel TV nor by any other third-party channel.
  5. Undertake an updating of the MultiChoice Group’s internal policies to bring them in line with human rights standards, the South African Constitution, and local laws on non-discrimination. This includes contractual arrangements with third party channels like Emmanuel TV which may broadcast discriminatory content.

 

Contact

Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, ICJ Africa Director, Kaajal.Keogh(a)icj.org

Tanveer Jeewa, Legal and Communications Officer, Tanveer.Jeewa(a)icj.org

The ICJ asks Multichoice Group to immediately suspend Emmanuel TV for broadcasting violent “conversion therapy” by Pastor TB Joshua

The ICJ asks Multichoice Group to immediately suspend Emmanuel TV for broadcasting violent “conversion therapy” by Pastor TB Joshua

May 3, 2021 | Advocacy, Open letters

In a letter of 3 May, the ICJ called on the Non-Executive Chair of the Multichoice Group, and the board of directors to immediately suspend Emmanuel TV on any of the DSTV platforms for broadcasting of televangelist Pastor TB Joshua’s multiple video clips ostensibly depicting a violent ‘conversion therapy’ and hate speech against LGBT persons amounting to human rights abuses. 

One of the videos, shows Joshua slapping and pushing a woman at least 16 times, and telling her: “There is a spirit disturbing you. She has transplanted herself into you. It is the spirit of woman.”

By broadcasting Joshua’s channel, which openly advocates hatred against, and causes harm to, LGBTI persons, Multichoice Group’s actions are inconsistent with human rights law and standards, the South African Constitution and domestic legislation, which all proscribe discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The ICJ therefore urged Multichoice to urgently take the following steps to remedy this situation: 

1. Immediately suspend Emmanuel TV on any of the DSTV platforms including Channel 309. 

2. Immediately remove the offending video clips and provide an undertaking not to air them or similar offensive materials again. 

3. Offer an apology from Multichoice Group to the LGBT persons. 

4. Undertake an updating of the MultiChoice Group’s internal policies to bring them in line with human rights standards, the South African Constitution, and local laws on non-discrimination. 

To read the full letter, click here.

Contact

Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, ICJ Africa Director, Kaajal.Keogh(a)icj.org

Tanveer Jeewa, Legal and Communications Officer, Tanveer.Jeewa(a)icj.org

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