CHECK NRW #3

Community
ENGLISH
HOPE FOR EVERYONE:
The Copenhagen LGBTI*+ Human Rights Forum took place as part of this year’s
WorldPride Festival in Copenhagen. Representatives of various political organizations
such as Michelle Bachelet, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights attended the three-day human rights conference in August 2021.
There they discussed topics like inclusion at home and abroad as well as health care
for LGBTI*+ and more political participation for activists.
WE NEED TO RETHINK THE
INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH
One point that was returned to again and again
during the forum was the need of ​a largescale
rethinking of how LGBTI* rights can be
implemented worldwide. For this, an intersectional
approach is needed. For example,
women’s rights should also be rights for trans*
people at the same time, since their rights
to abortion and name changes are based on
the rights to self-determination about one’s
own body and identity, which are understood
as human rights. In addition, the focus should
be directed to those people who are most severely
affected by discrimination, especially in
the poorer regions of the world, and especially
trans* and gender-diverse people. (ts,mb)
THE ØRESUND-DECLARATION
The ambitious Øresund Declaration was
published during the conference. The
multi-stage manifesto represents the heart
and legacy of WorldPride Copenhagen 2021
and includes 15 goals for global equality for
LGBTI*+ that should be achieved by 2030.
Decriminalisation: Being LGBTI+ is a
1
crime in more than 70 countries. We
need to change the law. We want decriminalisation
everywhere.
2
Ban conversion therapy: LGBTI+ people
are often forced or coerced into ‘treatment
schemes’ to ‘cure’ them of being who
they are. We agree with the International
Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
and with them declare that Conversion
Therapy is torture. It must be banned.
Make hate a crime: To target someone
because of their sexual orientation
3
or gender identity is a hate crime and
should be legislated against in every country.
Enact anti-discrimination legislation:
4
All human beings should be allowed
to live, thrive, seek happiness and be
recognised as who they are. We demand
anti-discrimination legislation for LGBTI+
people everywhere.
Protect LGBTI+ refugees: LGBTI+ individuals
are often more at risk during
5
conflicts and natural or medical crises.
As such, they are at higher risk than other
demographics of being forced to flee and
seek asylum. We demand legal protection
and refuge for LGBTI+ asylum seekers and
refugees in accordance with the UN Declaration
of Human Rights.
Equal marriage: Despite advances, very
6
few countries allow same sex couples
to get married. We want equal marriage
everywhere by 2030, and we want same sex
partners to have the same legal recognition
as all other people.
16 CHECK NRW #3