Statement by the LGBTI Core Group
Delivered by the Permanent Representative of Spain, H.E. Agustín Santos Maraver
Chairperson,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the following Member States that are part of the LGBTI Core Group: Argentina, The Netherlands, Albania, Australia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, as well as the European Union the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Watch and Outright Action International.
The LGBTI Core Group is an informal cross regional group established in 2008 co-chaired by Argentina and The Netherlands.
Chairperson,
The aforementioned Members of the LGBTI Core Group stand firmly against any form of violence, discrimination and marginalization on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics at all stages of life. For this reason, it is important to recognize that ageing is not experienced in the same way by all older adults. Sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics, intersect with age and can have a compounding effect on social opportunities, access to services and care, quality of life and the full enjoyment of human rights of older persons. Older LGBTI persons can face additional challenges, isolation, stigma and discrimination because of who they are and whom they love.
Too often, discrimination against older LGBTI persons remains invisible due to their age and isolation. We should work to overcome the lack of visibility and need to identify and develop specific targeted measures that ensure that all older people are able to participate fully in our societies.
The focus areas of this session, “Education, training, life-long learning and capacity-building” and “Social protection and social security” provide an opportunity for us to reflect on how to formulate policies and deliver services that are sensitive to the needs of older LGBTI persons.
The multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination faced by older LGBTI persons directly impacts their ability to participate fully in society. In addition to discrimination, these barriers can include systemic and structural impediments in accessing health services and social security and social protection and the denial of access to education, training, life-long learning and capacity building.
We should work together to address the specific needs and challenges faced by older LGBTI persons, to fully implement the principle of leaving no one behind and promote their effective inclusion in our societies.
Thank you.