Topic: LGBT Rights
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Tyler Grubb
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Canada position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
LGBT rights are currently a pressing topic in the global world. Political disagreements and ununified legislation determining the rights of the LGBT community are important issues that require immediate legislation by our committee. Although there are been improvement on international LGBT rights, there are many countries and societies where the well-being of an individual is placed second societal views of sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT rights have divided large populations from their countries, as many communities use severe punishments including fines, imprisonment, re-education programs, “corrective” rape, and the death penalty. In order for every individual to have access to the rights granted to them in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights Council must work together to create legislation which strongly prevents discrimination and prosecution of the LGBT community.
As a country who has largely accepted the LGBT community into our society and our national legislation, Canada understands the importance of protecting minority communities. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasizes that “it is our role to provide refuge to the persecuted and downtrodden.” Canada, protecting the rights to equal protection to the law without discrimination, believes the injustices to the LGBT community which have stripped them of their human rights laid out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: security of person, recognition as a person before the law, protection from torture and degrading treatment or punishment, should be penalized. The Human Rights Council has made great strides towards increasing the acknowledgment and application of LGBT rights. However, implementation in many third world and strongly religious nations is lacking. Canada believes the rights of the LGBT community are more pressing than the rights of a countries religious view towards the LGBT people. According to the Supreme Court of Canada, religion is not an excuse for the intolerance of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Canada proposes that the United Nations strengthen its legislation which validates and extends LGBT rights, specifically in nations which have not fully implemented previously stated expectations. If a nation is not willing or able to recognize and apply these rights for all citizens, then steps should be taken to help guide a nation towards fulfilling their duty to protect human rights. Strong and immediate steps should also be taken to diminish the use of inhumane punishments towards these people. In doing this, the Human Rights Council will be able to achieve its goal of every nation within the UN to follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
