Topic: LGBT Rights
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Bella Oswalt
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Bolivia position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
One of the first countries to decriminalize same sex interactions, Bolivia has always been on the forefront of change. As LGBT rights are being recognized and fought for more and more frequently throughout the world, it is important for the United Nations to recognize the basic rights being fought for. Discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual identities is a common issue that many countries, including Bolivia are trying to eradicate. In a recent poll, it was found that the public was split nearly fifty fifty on whether or not homosexuality should be publicly accepted. Reflected almost the same way in the government, same sex interactions are legal, while same sex marriage is not. Established in 1832, the Bolivian government declared same sex activity legal. More progressively, however, in 2009 an amendment was added to the constitution that bars and punishes sexual and gender identity discrimination. Even more recently, in 2016, a gender identity law was passed that allows citizens over 18 to officially change their name and gender on legal documents. Progressive in some ways, Bolivia has expressed no further plans to legalize same sex marriage as it stands, however an appeal made by LGBT groups has been made to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that asks for recognition of same sex marriages. Constitutionally Bolivia does not suggest that same sex marriage be legalized, but instead continues to recognize and protect individuals discriminated against for their orientation. Moving forward with this, Bolivia is willing to work with countries that feel the same way as our nation, and would like to see a resolution that further enforces anti-discriminatory values.
