Kaleidoscope Human Rights Foundation

Last week we submitted an Alternative Report to the Human Rights Committee concerning the Maldives' general non-compliance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with respect to LGBTQI+ people.

LGBTQI+ people in the Maldives experience significant and pervasive discrimination, harassment and violence and it is clear that there are inadequate protections under the law. The report is intended to inform the Human Rights Committee of these problems in order that its concluding observations on the Maldives' periodic report reflect the current lived experience of LGBTQI+ people in their territory.

We are grateful for the LGBTQI+ activists on the ground in the Maldives who bravely contributed to the content of this report.

You can download a copy of the report on our website:
👉https://www.kaleidoscopehrf.org/our-work/reporting/

Last week we hosted a conversation between our Chair, Prof Paula Ge**er and guest speaker, Ymania Brown to launch our new Best Practice Guide on using CEDAW to protect and advance the rights of trans women globally.

Ymania is a formidable person, generously sharing her journey to becoming a trans activist and passionately articulating her take on the current climate of anti-trans discrimination.

Paula and Ymania discussed many issues, including:
1. why we are seeing a significant escalation in discrimination, vilification and violence directed at trans people;
2. international law as an effective mechanism for protecting trans rights; and
3. how NGOs can do better to support trans women.

You can watch a recording of the launch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpnJCHGVsKc

Access a free copy of the Guide:
👉 https://www.kaleidoscopehrf.org/request-report/

Launch of Guide to using CEDAW to Protect Trans Women - speaker Ymania Brown and Prof Paula Ge**er Released in May 2024, this Guide has been developed in response to the alarming rise in anti-trans violence, persecution and discrimination around the world....

Today is the Day!

After a year of extensive thinking, research and drafting, we are launching our Best Practice Guide: Using CEDAW to Protect the Rights of Trans Women.

The United Nations peak body on women's rights has unambiguously and unequivocally stated that , and therefore all the rights and protections in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that protect women, protect trans women.

Our Best Practice Guide:

➖ demonstrates how (the UN women’s rights treaty) protects the of trans women;

➖ clearly explains the rights which are protected by this treaty; and

➖ offers practical recommendations and tips on how and their supporters can engage with the CEDAW Committee to advocate for the protection of their rights.

Download the Guide for free 👉 https://lnkd.in/dfqyy3Ha

Kaleidoscope Human Rights Foundation is excited to announce the release of our latest project this Wednesday, 15 May 2024.

We are alarmed at the rising levels of hate being directed at trans and gender diverse people around the world, and disappointed at the lack of action being taken by the UN in response to this increased persecution.

In response, we have developed a Best Practice Guide about how trans women, global NGOs and their allies can use international law to increase respect for their human rights. In particular, the Guide focuses on how to use the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (‘CEDAW’), and associated UN machinery, to better protect the rights of transwomen.

We look forward to sharing the Guide and our thoughts with you soon.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and LGBTIQA+ Australians share similar experiences of discrimination and persecution. Indeed opposition to The Voice tends to come from the same people who opposed marriage equality - Peter Dutton, Pauline Hanson, Tony Abbott etc... As an organisation that is about protecting human rights, we are proud to support the Voice to Parliament and our Board will all be voting YES on 14 October!

https://www.kaleidoscopehrf.org/kaleidoscope-supports-the-voice-to-parliament/