Addressing sexual orientation and gender ... - ARC International

worker is not a visible attribute on any person, and no one can tell just by looking at anindividual, that that individual is a sex worker.17. Moreover, sex work is illegal in Namibia. As discussed in various part of this response,the Government has put in place various measures to address poverty, including providingemployment opportunities. Those who participate in sex work should abide by the laws ofthe Republic of Namibia and take advantage of the opportunities the Government provides.The Special Rapporteur’s support and promotion of illegal activity is not seen as aproductive way to fight poverty and to help the vulnerable.18. Therefore, if sex workers feel “discouraged” from accessing public services, asdescribed by the Special Rapporteur, it may be their own perception, because they realizeand know that what they are doing in private in carrying out sex work, is illegal.Government services are offered to the public without discrimination to anyone.A/HRC/23/39 - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom ofpeaceful assembly and of association, Maina KiaiIII. Ability of associations to access financial resources: a vital part of the right tofreedom of associationC. Meeting international human rights norms and standards21. The Special Rapporteur also warns that the political environment, where for instancepatriarchy, sexism and authoritarian regimes are structural challenges, can also undulyundermine access to funding to civil society. Furthermore, criminalization in certaincountries of peaceful activities, such as protection of human rights, non-discrimination andequality or promotion of gender equality, can also make it difficult, if not impossible, forassociations working on these issues to raise funds.IV. Ability to hold peaceful assemblies: an integral component of the right tofreedom of peaceful assemblyA. Background43. The ability to hold peaceful assemblies is a fundamental and integral component of themultifaceted right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which shall be enjoyed by everyone.Such ability is of utmost importance to the work of civil society actors, including thosepromoting the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, as it enables them topublicly voice their message, which ultimately benefits the realization of the right(s) theystrive to promote and protect, especially in the context of the ongoing dire economic crisis.This is all the more relevant for groups most at risk of violations and discrimination, suchas women, youth, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons belonging tominority groups, groups at risk because of their sexual orientation and gender identity andnon-nationals.B. Procedural and practical measures for holding peaceful assemblies4. Pre-event planning68. The Special Rapporteur considers pre-event planning, including risk assessment, by lawenforcement officials, together with organizers of peaceful assemblies and, if possible, localauthorities, as a good practice which may contribute to the success of the assembly.However, participation of organizers in such planning should never be made compulsory.69. Possible issues for discussion include an estimate of the number of participantsexpected; itinerary of the assembly, if it is not static; specific needs of persons withdisabilities and groups at risk, such as women, indigenous peoples and groups who, due totheir sexual orientation and/or gender identity may be in need of greater protection by theauthorities; need to deploy properly trained and clearly identified stewards whose role is toprovide assistance to organizers by, inter alia, informing and orienting the public during theevent, but who should not be used to palliate deficiencies in the security apparatus.Importantly, when organizers cannot be identified due to the nature of certain assemblies12