International Day Against Homophobia

Photo: Jean Marc Ferré/UN

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was commemorated on May 17. Brazil has actively contributed to the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTI individuals in multilateral fora. At the regional level, Brazil has annually presented a resolution on the subject to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States. In addition, it has supported the adoption of the Inter-American Convention Against all Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance, which makes express reference to the prohibition of sexual and gender-based discrimination.

Within the scope of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), Brazil participated actively in the negotiations and co-sponsored during the 17th Session, on June 2011, the resolution 17/19, entitled "Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity", which was introduced by South Africa. Since September 2014, Brazil is a member of the HRC core group of the new draft resolution on the subject.

At its 27th Session, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 27/32, entitled "Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity", which requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to update the report (A/HRC/19/41) on the situation of human rights of LGBTI people, with a view to sharing good practices to overcome sexual and gender-based violence. The updated report was published and discussed in June 2015 during the 29th Session of the HRC. On the occasion, Brazil held, together with partner countries, a side event on the promotion of the LGBTI rights.