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Beyond Asia
Inter-American Court of Human Rights recognises right to legal gender recognition and same-sex couples’ right to marriage
In response to a request by Costa Rica regarding the obligations of States to recognise the economic consequences of a same-sex union and recognition of a person’s gender identity, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has published an advisory opinion stating that gender identity and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation are protected by the American Convention […]
Bermuda’s marriage law challenged
A gay Bermudian citizen has launched a legal challenge against the Attorney-General for revoking his right to marry in his country and subjecting him to “inhuman or degrading treatment”. Lawyers representing the party filed a lawsuit yesterday afternoon with the Supreme Court, claiming that the new Domestic Partnership Act was unconstitutional. The Act, which replaced […]
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a violation of civil rights, rules US Appeals Court
The US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit has ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination on the basis of sex, also bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In this case, a gay worker had alleged that he had been dismissed from service after revealing […]
Court permission no longer required for gender transition hormone therapy in Australia
An Australian Family Court has held that teenagers no longer require the authorisation of the court to undergo stage 2 of hormone therapy, which is irreversible in nature, for gender dysphoria. In earlier cases, Australian courts had held that since the treatment was irreversible, it was necessary for the Court to assess the ability of […]
German courts mandates introduction of third gender category in public documents
The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany has held that the civil status law, which does not provide a third gender category for registration, is violative of the right to privacy, and thus incompatible with the constitution. The Court has directed the legislature to within a year, create a new regulation to provide for registration of […]
UK Court of Appeal quashes order denying parental rights to transwoman
The Court of Appeal reversed a High Court judgement which prevented a transgender father, belonging to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, from having direct contact with her five children. The tight-knit Haredi community in Manchester had threatened to ostracise her family if they had any contact with her once it was found she was living as […]
Hungarian Ombuds finds rejection of lesbian woman’s application to adopt unlawful
A report by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has found that the decision of Hungarian authorities to reject the adoption application of a same-sex couple amounted to unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation. The two women’s application to adopt a 16-month-old Roma girl was rejected on the grounds that it would infringe upon the child’s […]
Austrian Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage
Although civil partnerships have been allowed since 2010, the Constitutional Court of Austria termed the law barring same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. Same-sex marriage is likely to be legal from January 1, 2019. The ruling also allowed the couples involved in the challenge considered by the Court to marry immediately. The Court observed that “the distinction […]
European Parliament passes resolution on combating sexual harassment and abuse in the EU
The European Parliament, by 580 votes to 10 and with 27 abstentions, adopted a resolution on combating sexual harassment and abuse in the EU. The Parliament condemned all forms of sexual violence and harassment, whether it be physical or psychological, and noting the fact that these acts are too easily tolerated. The Parliament also asked […]
President of Tanzania calls for arrest of pregnant schoolgirls
Civil rights activists in Tanzania accused the government of “promoting a culture of human rights violations” after the President pardoned two men who had convicted for raping ten primary school children aged between six and eight years of age, along with thousands of other prisoners. The news of their release coincided with calls for the […]