42nd HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Pre-colonial Societies on Gender and Sexuality: A Hindu, Muslim and Indigenous Peoples' Perspective
Wednesday, September 11th 2019
10:00 – 11:00 am
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Conference Room XVI
Colonial legal codes, political and religious systems, and patriarchal cultural mores and narratives still inform and influence laws, policies, and social practices in many former colonial territories. These foreign systems and narratives were imposed on and eroded existing legal, political, and religious institutions, and erased indigenous sexualities, genders, and expressions. Sexual and gender minorities across the world today still suffer discrimination, inequality, injustice, and violence due to the persistence and perpetuation of patriarchal and heteronormative colonial laws and worldviews. The impact is felt today more than ever as political and religious representatives hijack discourses of cultural relativism and religious freedom to oppose the promotion of human rights in different corners of the world, including at the UN. This side event will feature stories celebrating diversity, love, and inclusion by centering the voices of marginalized people, predominantly from the Global South, who represent pre-colonial cultural and religious traditions and contexts that are inclusive and affirming of LGBTIQ people around the world.
Opening Remarks from a Representative from the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.
Our panelists will be Imam Dr Ludovic-Mohammed Zahed (Islam, Algeria/France), Dr Yvette Abrahams (Khoesan indigenous spirituality, South Africa), Manisha Dhakal (Hindu, Nepal), and Dr Elizabeth Kerekere (Maori indigenous spirituality, New Zealand) and the panel will be moderated by Ani Zonneveld from Muslims for Progressive Values.
See you then!
