Intervención de la Representante Permanente Alterno de la República Argentina, Ministro Gabriela Martinic
11 de julio
I would like to start thanking our partners from civil society for putting together this event in a crucial time for the implementation and follow-up of the Agenda 2030; and welcoming you all to this discussion on practical recommendations to ensure LGBTI disaggregated data on sustainable development.
I would like to add our satisfaction on having this space to address the undeniable inter-linkages and synergies between the human rights and the development agendas.
Argentina, together with the Netherlands, is co-chair of the UN LGBTI Core Group, an informal cross regional group that includes 23 Member States, the United Nations Human Rights Office and two non-governmental organizations (Human Rights Watch and Outright Action International).
Since its establishment in 2008, the Core Group has focused on the promotion and protection of the human rights of LGBTI persons, but in the recent years it has also included in its work issues related to sustainable development, in particular poverty, education and health.
We strongly believe that the achievement of sustainable development is closely linked to the extent to which people’s human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
In the case of LGBTI people, as it happens with all marginalized groups -those traditional left behind- the first obstacle to overcome is the lack of visibility. We need to do more to identify and bring to light the specific challenges faced by LGBTI people in areas related to development.
Argentina advocates for the inclusion of LGBTI people within the SDG framework, in order achieve full equal rights on all development priorities. Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Prof. Muntarbhorn, have also made it clear that the Agenda 2030 is inclusive of all people, including LGBTI persons.
In this context, it is critical to include them in the process of follow-up of the Agenda 2030. It is also vital to work with the grass-root organizations to raise awareness on the importance of strengthening the partnerships among all relevant actors in this process.
Therefore, we are glad to hear today about the UNDP led LGBTI Inclusion Index, a project aimed to collect and analyze existing data and generating new research on LGBTI inclusion.
Besides, we will hear on a second project, a joint report from OutRight and the MSM Global Forum exploring in more detail the role of data in SDG 3, with concrete suggestions for Member States. As early as 2007, the Yogyakarta Principles recommended taking all necessary measures to ensure the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of health, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
OutRight and the MSM Global Forum have put together a list of concrete elements to be measured in the field of health and well-being and we are looking forward to hear more from them.
We hope that these examples and the discussion that will follow will contribute to highlight the importance of moving from an abstract concept of "leaving no on behind" to outlining and implementing national policies based on full inclusion, especially for LGBTI people across the globe, in order to give full meaning and achieve such noble goal.
Thank you