16 April 2004
Geneva, Switzerland:

Yesterday, the UN Commission on Human Rights agreed, by a cross-regional consensus, to maintain consideration of the resolution on sexual orientation and human rights at its session next year. The Chair of the Commission, hearing no objection to the proposal, declared the decision adopted. Over the past few days, many governments and NGOs worked hard to honor the request of Brazil, the resolution’s main sponsor, to build a consensus to keep this important human rights issue on the Commission’s agenda.

IGLHRC, as part of a global coalition of NGOs who have been working domestically and internationally, welcomes this opportunity to continue building support over the year to come. Members of the coalition stated that they were pleased that the issue of sexual orientation and human rights remains squarely on the Commission’s agenda, and are committed to continuing to support the inclusion of gender identity.

The coalition invites all NGOs to join this growing effort to ensure that human rights for all people are recognized at the local, national, regional and international levels. This must include promoting and protecting the human rights of those who are targeted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

For more information, please contact:

Sunila Abeysekera,

INFORM Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka inform@slt.lk

Claudia Acevedo,

Lesbiradas, Guatemala 502-512-2348, claudiacevedo@intelnet.net.gt; lesbiradas@intelnet.net.gt

Lohana Berkin,s

ALITT- Argentina, Argentina alittorg@yahoo.com.ar

Aditya Bondyopadhyay,

Naz Foundation International, India, 91-981-117-0181, aditya@bamon.org

Charlotte Bunch ,

Center for Women's Global Leadership , USA , cbunch@igc.org

Beto de Jesus,

Brazilian Committee, Brazil, 079-773-6008, betojesus@uol.com.br

Yves de Matteis,

360 degrees/Pink Cross/ILGA, Switzerland, 079-773-6008, gig@360.ch

Fannyann Viola Eddy,

Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association, Sierra Leone, 00-232-30243-601 sllaga2003@yahoo.co.uk, fannyannviolaeddy@yahoo.co.uk

Lorena Espinoza,

Gaylesdom, Dominican Republic lorespe2002@yahoo.com

John Fisher/Kim Vance,

ARC International, Canada 079-470-1887, john@arc-international.net

Susana Fried,

IGLHRC, United States 079 470 16 92, sufried@hotmail.com

Brigid Inder,

Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice, Netherlands, 31-70-365-2042; 022-818-8100, brigid@iccwomen.org; brigidinder@hotmail.com

Rolando Jimenez,

Mov. Internacional Liberación Homosexual, Chile, 09-41-87788, movilh@movilh.org

Evert Knoesen,

Equality Project, South Africa, evert@equality.org.za

Scott Long,

LGBT Rights Project, HRW United States, 079-470-1694, longs@hrw.org

Fadzai Muparutsa,

GALZ, Zimbabwe, gender@galz.co.zw

Sunil Pant,

Blue Diamond Society, Nepal, cspsb@yahoo.com

Pedro Paradiso Sottile,

Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA), Argentina, juridico@cha.org.ar