LGBTs report human rights violations

Manila, Philippines – Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) activists have submitted to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland two scathing reports on the violations of the human rights of their community in the Philippines.

The first report, entitled “The Status of LGBT Rights in the Philippines, Submission to the Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review 13th Session,” the groups Rainbow Rights Project (R-Rights) and the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch (HCW) documented abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the country since 2007. The other document, “A Report on Violations of Human Rights Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Philippines,” was drafted by the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay).

These complaints are separate from other reports from non-government organizations (NGOs) that have been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council as alternative sources of data to the official government scheduled for submission for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2012. (Marvyn N. Benaning)