Until it is simply the way things are

LGBTI people suffer from various forms of discrimination and inequality in the workplace, education setting and public spaces. It is the lack of legal gender recognition, especially for transgender people, which translates often to poverty and unemployment, limited access to basic social services and increasing vulnerability to all sort of gender-based violence stigma and discrimination.

Efforts to address the legal protection matter and recognition is anchored on international human rights instruments and international conventions, of which the Philippines is a signatory, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. These instruments seek to address all forms of discrimination, call for the promotion and protection of the rights of people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE), and uphold dignity, human rights, and gender equality for all including LGBTI.

In truth in the Philippines, the country’s legal framework offers an enabling environment to address gender-based concerns, discrimination, and inequality. Landmark laws, such as the Magna Carta of Women, recognizes SOGIE as an important sector of society, which deserves the protection from all forms of violence and discrimination. House Bill 4982 or the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality Bill and the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill, all seek to define, prohibit, and penalize situations and practices of discrimination as well as promote and protect the rights of LGBTI.

The report presents specific recommendations and suggested actions that will promote legal gender recognition and human rights for transgender people in the Philippines and facilitate an enabling environment that allows transgender people to access education, employment, health, other public services and fully participate in society. The review aims at enhancing new platforms for asserting transgender rights and it is hoped that could open doors for more enhanced collaboration among the various sectors.

UNDP has been working closely with Philippines Commission on Human Rights since early 2000 pushing an agenda that nurtures the culture of human rights, empowering citizens and claim holders to participate in human rights-related initiatives strengthening the human rights infrastructure to support the duty bearers to perform their mandates effectively. “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start” and, while “we may face set back at times, thinking there will not be a magic day when we wake up and it is now okay to express publicly”; you can bet on UNDP commitment to support the most vulnerable by doing things publicly “until it is simply the way things are”.

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