Yogyakarta Principles in Action

Yogyakarta Principles in Action is a movement for activists and human rights defenders to protmote human rights, especially those of LGBTI around the Yogyakarta Principles supported by ARC International, Hivos and Dreilieden Gesellschaft für geminuütziges Privatkapitel, Germany.

They published "Activist's Guide" on the Yogyakarta Principles in August, 2010 and provides also translations of the Yogyakarta Principles in language which are not official language of United Nations, that is Dutch, Euskara (Basque), German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Persian, Portuguese, Sinhala and Tamil.

Activist's Guide

This Guide of 146 pages is consisted by four Sections preceded by Foreword, Acknowlegdements, and Purpose and Structure of this Guide. Unlike The Yogyakarta Principles, the term LGBTI insted of LGBT is used in all occasions.

Table of Contents

The Foreward at p. 6 reaffirm that " We all have the same human rights. Whatever our [...] orientation, gender identity, nationality, place of residence, [...], national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status, we are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights - interrelated, interdependent, and universal - are shared by each one of us." And at p. 7 that "There is an inconsistency between the rights identified in international human rights documents, such as those in the Yogyakarta Principles, and the rights actually enjoyed by individuals. While international standars may grant us rights, discrimination, stigma, violence, and fear pose real threats to people of diverse [...] orientations and gender identities. Activists, human rights defenders, and individual members of our many communities are the driving force behild closing this gap between our rights and our reality."

And at p.9, the Acknowlegement states that "Thanks are due to the staff of ARC International and the International Commission of Jurists, as well as the following group of generous activists:

  • Adrian Coman, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
  • Justus Eisfeld, Global Advocates for Trans Equality
  • Stefano Fabeni, Global Rights
  • Scott Long, Human Rights Watch
  • Sara Perle, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
  • Cynthia Rothschild, Center for Women's Global Leadership
  • Renato Sabbadini, International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
  • Kate Shell, Amnesty International
  • Katrine Thomasen, International Service for Human Rights

And at p. 10, the Purpose and Structure of this Guide states that "The Guide is an introduction to the Yogyakarta Principles, to faciliate a deeper understanding of the Principles and to encourage their use and their promotion.

Section 1, The Yogyakarta Principles - overview and Contents

  • 19 What are the Yogyakarta Principles?
  • 21 Why the Yogyakarta Principles?
  • 23 Application of the Yogyakarta principles to women, trans, and intersex people
  • 25 The International Human Rights System
  • 27 Human Rights at Regional Level
  • 27 The Inter-American Human Rights System
  • 28 The European system
  • 29 The African Human Rights System
  • 29 Asia Pacific Forum
  • 30 Rights for LGBTI People and International Human Rights Law
  • 35 To whom are the Yogyakarta Principles Addressed?
  • 36 The Yogyakarta Principles - A Living Document

'''Section 2, The Yogyakarta Principles Up Close

  • From page 39 to page 84 they explain all Articles of the Yogyakarta Principles themselves into 14 sections relating particular rights of the international human rights law including case law.

Section 3, The Yogyakarta Principle in Action

  • 88 Challenging oppressive legal standards
  • 89 Blue Diamond Society, Nepal
  • 92 Naz Fondation and Voices Against 377, India
  • 95 Transgender Netwerk Nederland
  • 98 AIZHI Action Progect and Chinese Society for the Study of [...] Minorities (founded by Wan Yanhai)
  • 101 Developing new government policy
  • 102 Brazilian Association of Lesbiens, Gays and Bisexuals, Travestis and Transsexuals
  • 104 United Belize Advocacy Movement, Belize
  • 106 Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
  • 109 The Alliance for full citizenship for LGBT people, Colombia
  • 111 Seeking a responsive government
  • 112 New Zealand Human Rights Commission
  • 116 Transsexual Organisation for Dignity in Diversity, Chile
  • 118 Union Afirmativa De Venezuela
  • 120 Educating the public
  • 121 Society Against [...] Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Guyana
  • 123 Sangama, India
  • 125 Campaign Against Homophobia, Poland
  • 128 Building a movement
  • 129 07-07-07 Campaign, South Africa
  • 132 Meem, Lebanon

Section 4, Applying the Yogyakarta Principles

  • 140 Potential Applications
  • 145 Conclusion and Resources

Characteristics of the Guide

At p. 19 the guide affirms that "The Principles do not create any new rights; they are, rather, an articulation of rights already held. The Yogyakarta Principles are based on international human rights law as reflected in international and regional treaties; the jurisprudence of human rights treaty bodies and specialised courts and commuissions; authoritative interpretation by the special rapporteur and working groups of UN; expert opinion; and State practice." At p. 21 affirms relating the cause of the Yogyakarta Principles that "In many other parts of the world LGBTI people continue to face criminalisation, marginalisation, discrimination, hatred and many, many forms of rights violations. Within many mainstream societies, the notion of rights for LGBTI people has historically been ignored or treated with derision.".

And about notion and categorisation of LGBTI at p.23 states that "Notwithstanding the desire to escape the negative connotations and efffect of identity category, the LGBTI community does organise itself around identity groups, and common patterns of oppression are clear." And about intersex at p.24-25 states that "Again, rights-based advocacy must be based on universal rights that are available regardless of how people are categorised. For example, although the drafters of the Yogyakarta Principles dis not specifically adress the rights of intersex people, the Principles do identify the rights to be free from medical abuse. Advocacy on behalf of specific afirmation of each of the listed rights." And further about the transsexuals, at p. 100 states that "It is important to note that while "[...] orientation" has been declassified as a mental illness in many countires, "gender identity" or "gender identity disorder" often remains under considerations.

See also

  • The Yogyakarta Principles
  • International human rights law
  • LGBTI
  • UN declaration on [...] orientation and gender identity
  • LGBT rights by country or territory
  • List of LGBT rights organisations

fr:Principes de Jogjakarta en Action

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