Madam Chair,
I give this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Switzerland, the UK and my own country Norway.
Throughout the month of June, Pride festivals take place in many countries around the world to celebrate love, diversity, inclusion, and equality. It is not only a celebration, but also an important event that reminds us of the challenges LGBT+ persons continue to face.
As OSCE participating states, we have all recognized that human rights are universal and indivisible. We are all committed to principles of equality, to combat all forms of discrimination and intolerance, and to protect the human rights of all people. Sexual orientation, gender identity and expression should never be used as a basis for discrimination and abuse.
Despite progress in advancing LGBT+ rights in several OSCE participating States — such as legal reforms and increasing visibility of LGBT+ individuals — there is a troubling rise in violence, harassment, and bullying targeting this community.
Madam Chair,
Distinct and sometimes intersecting challenges are faced by lesbian and bisexual women, gay and bisexual men, transgender persons, intersex persons and other LGBT+ persons. As several countries worldwide are getting ready to celebrate Pride Month, LBGT+ people have faced multiple challenges over the past 12 months – including the rise of far-right and authoritarian movements, constant efforts to weaken multilateral institutions, and significant reductions in funding for LGBT+ movements and their data.
In ILGA Europe’s “Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBT+ People in Europe and Central Asia” from February this year, key findings highlight a concerning rise in anti-LGBT+ legislation and rhetoric including in many OSCE participating States. Governments are increasingly adopting “foreign agent” laws as a mean to undermine the civil and political rights of all, particularly but not only those supporting LGBT+ rights, by restricting funding, and stifling freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Simultaneously, “LGBT+ propaganda” laws are criminalizing visibility and expression, especially in education, and contributing to a surge in transphobic hate and violence.
Colleagues,
Although all OSCE participating states have an obligation to protect LGBT+ persons, some governments in the OSCE region are actively instrumentalising anti-LGBT+ sentiment for domestic political purposes. This deliberate use of discriminatory rhetoric reinforces misinformation, fuels stigmatization, and increases the risk of hate crimes and violent attacks against LGBT+ individuals.
There are also several cases in which the governments themselves target, silence, harass, attack, and persecute human rights defenders and organizations representing LGBT+ persons.
Madam Chair,
We call on all participating states to take action to prevent all forms of violence, harassment, hate crime, and discrimination against LGBT+ persons.
Diversity and tolerance are cornerstones of a strong democracy. It becomes strong when everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity is included and involved in our community. A society without freedom to choose your own beliefs, to live your own culture, to live your own sexual orientation or express your own gender identity is not a free and inclusive democracy.
No one should be subjected to discrimination because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. We have a shared responsibility to build strong, inclusive, and resilient democracies across the OSCE region — societies where everyone can live freely, love whom they choose, and be fully themselves – without fear.
