NARRATIVE REPORT 2009 - The ICHRP

International Council on Human Rights Policy - Narrative Report 2009
they will identify and discuss laws and cases that appear in several jurisdictions in the different
regions and therefore reveal existing or developing trends, or departures from these trends. The
papers will be published in English. The African and Universal papers will be translated into
French. The Universal and Latin American paper will be translated into Spanish. Other translations
will be considered.
Database
This project will generate an interactive database, including descriptions of some 100 cases, that
will facilitate the exchange of information and resources and make the research available to a
wider audience. For each case an English summary will be available. When possible a link to the
full document in the original language will be provided. WHO will pass the database to the Council,
after it has been developed. It will not be updated.
Forum
To promote contact and exchange between human rights organisations, NGOs, academic
institutions, government policy-makers and other actors with an interest in the issue of health and
sexuality, the project will generate an online forum similar to the Human Rights Principles and
NGO Accountability Online Forum (see section B, project 119). The forum would collect different
perspectives and ideas, both negative and positive, on the issues surrounding sexuality and
human rights and would serve as a tool for follow-up and to gauge responses to, and the
influence of, the discussion papers.
As noted above, in February 2010, the Council’s Board decided to prioritise this project (reference
140). It will start in 2010 and the start of the Council’s own project (reference 134) will therefore
be deferred until its completion (in 2011). The work undertaken for project 140 will provide an
evidence base for the Council’s project, and can therefore be said to provide a foundation for the
work the Council will eventually undertake.
During 2009 Magdalena Sepulvèda also liaised with various state delegations that are working on
the issue of sexuality as a follow-up to the High-level panel event on human rights, sexual
orientation and gender identity that took place in June 2009 at the UN Human Rights Council. The
event built on a joint statement by 54 States at the December 2006 session of the Human Rights
Council. It requested the Council to address these issues, affirm the principles of universality and
non-discrimination, and raise awareness of a joint statement that 67 States from all 5 UN regions
have endorsed, which was presented at the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008.
Research director: Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona.
Design: Quarter 4, 2009, Quarter 1 2010.
Start: Quarter 2, 2010.
Working title:
Sexuality, Health and Human Rights: Discussion Series. In English. (Selected
papers in French and Spanish.)
Publication: Schedule to be spread over 2010 and 2011.
Research team:
General editor: Magdalena Sepùlveda. Editors: to be appointed.
Advisers:
To be appointed.
18