We Keep LGBTQ+ Women & Girls Up-To-Date
Are you curious about the findings of the United Nations independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people during his recent visit to Cambodia? If so, keep reading as we delve into the details.
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN independent expert responsible for protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recently completed a 10-day trip to Cambodia. During this time, he visited several cities, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang. As part of his research, he engaged with members of the LGBTQ+ community in the area.
Before delving into his findings regarding LGBTQ+ integration in Cambodian society, let me introduce Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz.
The United Nations Human Rights Council provides unpaid honorary positions to independent experts who are tasked with examining and reporting on specific themes or country situations.
During his recent visit to Cambodia, Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz met with representatives of the state, civil society organizations, and over a hundred members of the LGBTQ+ community to examine their situation within Cambodian society.
According to Mr. Madrigal-Borloz, Cambodia has the potential to fully integrate LGBTQ+ individuals into society and has laws to protect them against any form of violence and discrimination.
However, local authorities must legally recognize LGBTQ+ families and their rights to achieve this goal. And according to Mr. Madrigal-Borloz, they are perfectly aware of this.
"Without exception, State agents with whom I held conversations acknowledged that diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity was a trait inherent to humankind and that all Cambodian citizens, including members of the LGBT community, were valued members of society who have the right to live in freedom and equality," he said.
by Author
The UN independent expert emphasized that official recognition of LGBTQ+ individuals and same-sex relationships is essential in the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The testimonies received during his visit clearly indicate that recognition is an indispensable factor in guaranteeing human rights for LGBTQ+ people in Cambodia. It is imperative that members of the community feel like full-fledged members of society. And the Cambodian authorities must act immediately to ensure complete social integration.
Mr. Madrigal-Borloz called on the Cambodian government to take immediate action and support the proposed program by Cambodian LGBTQ+ communities based on three main commitments: legalization of same-sex marriage, legal recognition of gender, and adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination laws.
"I encourage the State to make swift progress on this agenda, advanced by Cambodian communities with a clear point of reference in the realities of their lives and needs, guided by the three principal commitments that Cambodia is considering since 2019: the recognition of LGBT families through the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, the legal recognition of gender identity, and the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation," he said.
by Author
As an expert tasked with protecting against violence and discrimination, Mr. Madrigal-Borloz also investigated violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in various sectors. While he found no evidence of systematic violence, the testimonies collected highlighted the presence of violence and discrimination within families, schools, workplaces, and healthcare.
Mr. Madrigal-Borloz noted that Cambodia does not have legislation that explicitly criminalizes sexual orientation or gender identity. This offers "an encouraging starting point" for improving LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
"Before and during my visit, I did not receive any information of massive or systematic physical against the people with whom I spoke or persons known by them. I also note that Cambodia does not have legislation that explicitly criminalizes sexual orientation or gender identity. This gave me an encouraging point of departure," he said.
by Author
Despite the lack of systematic evidence of violence against the LGBT community in Cambodia, testimonies gathered by Mr. Madrigal-Borloz show that violence and discrimination are still present within families and continue in other areas such as schools, workplaces, and healthcare.
To conclude, Mr. Madrigal-Borloz emphasized the need for thorough investigations to gather reliable data to effectively address issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Cambodia. Without this data, any effort to improve their quality of life would be ineffective.
He also invited authorities to work with the LGTBQ+ community and civil society organizations to participate in developing, implementing and evaluating public policies.
During his visit to Cambodia, Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the United Nations independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, shed light on the urgent need for official recognition of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. Although local authorities are aware of this issue, they must take immediate action to ensure human rights for the community. Drawing upon testimonies collected during his visit, Mr. Madrigal-Borloz called upon the Cambodian state to support the proposed program by the Cambodian LGBTQ+ community, specifically by legalizing marriage equality and adopting anti-discrimination legislation. It is high time for members of the LGBTQ+ community to feel fully integrated into Cambodian society and for their rights to be officially recognized.
Comments