In the past few years, the meetings of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have seen pitched battles over sexuality-related human rights. Many countries have increasingly made it clear that they consider sexual rights -- including rights related to real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression -- to be integral to the broad spectrum of international human rights norms and standards. At the same time, several conservative countries, with the support of the Vatican, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), have resisted all efforts to address sexuality-related human rights concerns.

While many of us have been disappointed with two years of postponement of the resolution on sexual orientation and human rights (proposed by Brazil in 2003), there is still much work that can be done to advance issues of sexual rights within the international arena. IGLHRC calls upon our allies and supporters to lobby governments IMMEDIATELY* to indicate their understanding that sexual rights -- including rights related to real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression -- are human rights and relevant for consideration at the CHR. There are several key moments in which governments will have the opportunity to voice these views:

• In their opening statements during the High Level Segment in the first of the CHR
• In interventions during the appropriate agenda items
• In their interactive dialogues with Special Rapporteurs, especially those Special Rapporteurs who have addressed sexual rights in their reports (go to www.ohchr.org to download these reports)

Governments who speak to the importance of protecting those persecuted because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity will help ensure that sexual rights remain in the dialogue at the CHR. Even further, governments should affirm that discrimination on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by human rights norms and standards. In it also important that governments refer to sexual and reproductive rights, and to affirm the outcomes of the tenth year reviews of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo +10) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing + 10).

LGBTI/sexual rights activists will again have a visible and strong presence at CHR this year, and will work to lobby on several other resolutions on the agenda that would be strengthened by the inclusion of progressive language on sexual rights. We will also continue to advocate with various UN mechanisms to ensure that attention to sexual rights remains at the forefront of international dialogues on the protection and promotion of all human rights for all.